Teilweise neu: 2002-04-20 Contents of this issue:
1. Election Results 2. Party Time 3. Airline Growing 4. LLU Replicant? 5. Flag Day Celebrations 6. Cosmopolitan Manukau ======================================================================== Old contents were: 1. Party Time 2. Airline Growing 3. LLU Replicant? 4. Flag Day Celebrations 5. Cosmopolitan Manukau April 20th, 2002 1. Election Results: In a close fought battle at the polls today all sitting members were returned to the Legislative Assembly. Provisional results are: Common roll members Toke Talagi ( (445), Sani Lakatani (428), Terry Coe (426), Michael Jackson (2), Hunukitama Hunuki (393) O'Love Jacobsen (370). The next highest pollers were Atapana Siakimotu and Steve McCoy. Village constituencies: Returned unopposed:- Avatele- Billy Talagi; Vaiea-Talititama Taliti; Hakupu-Young Vivian; Mutalau- Bill Vakaafi; Hikutavake -Opili Talafasi; Namukulu - Jack Willie; Makefu-Tofua Puletama; Alofi North - a'ainga Tukuitonga. Elected - winners first: Alofi South Robert Rex jr (113), Makamau Hekau (88); Tamakautoga - Peter Funaki (45), Taso Tukuniu (40);Toi- Dion Taufitu (10), Lilivika Muimatagi (8 ); Tuapa- Fisa Pihiga (53), Henry Eveni (20); Lakepa- John Operator Siakia (29), Talitama Magatogia (20); Liku - Pokotoa Sipeli (24), Nogimoka Poumale (15). Toke Talagi captured the most island-wide votes while former top poller O'Love Jacobsen struggled to hold sixth placing.The island's leadership now remains in the balance. Political commentators predict Young Vivian fronts up favourite following a split in the ranks of the Niue Peoples Party which could see Sani Lakatani on the sideline.The Assembly meets Friday April 26 to swear in the members and elect a new Speaker and Premier. Full common roll results posted tomorrow. <a href="Election2002.html">Click here for pictures of the successful candidates....</a> 1. Party Time: Candidates in today's Niue general election were yesterday patronising the government liquor bond store and butchery outlet preparing for celebratory parties after the official results are announced tonight.Retailers said BBQ steaks and sausages were in strong demand with steady beer sales.TV Niue and its sister service Radio Sunshine will be broadcasting results as they come to hand.The weather is predicted to be fine and following tradition a high percentage of voters are expected to visit the 14 village booths. 2. Airline Growing: Tonga's Royal Tongan Airlines has opened an office in Suva to cater for the airline's growing market in the capital, including Tongan students. Manager Leisieli Vete said the Tongan community in Suva are already expressing relief. Royal Tongan Airlines had to end its own Boeing 737 international services because of financial problems. But it now operates international services through code sharing with Fiji's Air Pacific, Air New Zealand, and Samoa's Polynesian Airlines. It also operates Tongan domestic services and provides the only air link with Niue through its Tonga-Niue flights using a Shorts 360 turboprop. - (Daily Post/PINA Nius Online). 3. LLU Replicant?: Samoa's Oceania University of Medicine has struck difficulties one month after it was officially opened, losing its acting Dean, Professor Don Wilbur. An American, Professor Wilbur was also the school's Head of Basic Sciences. He has returned to the USA and is reported to have resigned. Dr Satupaitea Viali, who lectures on clinical studies, is reported to be the only senior academic staff currently at the university. The launch of the school, which targets international students, followed the failure of the similar but unconnected Lord Liverpool -George Washington medical school venture in neighbouring Niue. Eight overseas students are currently believed to be mainly doing independent research work at Oceania University of Medicine. The university had said it would make extensive use of the Internet in delivering programmes to students. During its opening the principal investor and chairperson, American businesswoman Taffy Gould, pledged to the Samoan government the investors' commitment to providing an "institution of high standard and integrity." Mrs Gould also announced that the school would set up a foundation to reward doctors or health personnel with innovative ideas that would improve health care in Samoa. ( Samoa Observer/PINA Nius Online). 4. Flag Day Celebrations: Tonga's king and queen and Samoa's head of state lead the regional guests in American Samoa for the annual Flag Day celebrations. King Taufa'ahau Tupou and Queen Halaevalu Mata'aho arrived accompanied by the royal party for the Flag Day, celebrating raising of the American flag over American Samoa 102 years ago. A lead delegation from Tonga arrived last week. Members reportedly met with local government officials to discuss a number of issues, including the Tongan government warehouse in Tafuna. Head of state Malietoa Tanumafili II heads the delegation which arrived from neighboring independent Samoa. Also attending the Flag Day festivities is the Head of the Tokelau government, Aliki Faipule Pio Tuia, who arrived on Monday with the Tokelau delegation.(PINA Nius OnLine). 5. Cosmopolitan Manukau: It's official - Manukau is New Zealand's third largest and fastest growing city. It is home for thousands of Niueans who have moved from their homeland to New Zealand. Latest census figures show Manukau's population has grown by 20 per cent - more than 57,000 people - since 1991. It now accounts for 15 per cent of New Zealand's total population growth. Manukau's population is 283,197, including 145,413 females and 137,784 males. It has the largest Maori population in the country, with more than 44,000 people identifying themselves as Maori. However, Samoan is the most commonly spoken language after English and Manukau remains the city with the highest Pacific population. Almost 27 per cent of our people are Polynesian, compared with 6.5 per cent nationally. Asian people make up 15 per cent, compared with 6.6 per cent in the whole of New Zealand. Just over half of Manukau residents are European, compared to 80 per cent in the rest of New Zealand, and 16.5 per cent are Maori. Manukau's image as a young city still rings true. The median age is 30.8, four years younger than the national median, while 27 per cent of Manukau people are under 15, compared with 22.7 per cent in the rest of New Zealand. __END__
