26/06/07 NIUE FILM COMMISSION ESTABLISHED
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved on 17 April 2007 the establishment of the Niue Film Commission. The members of Board of the Niue Film Commission includes Economic Planning(EPDS), Niue Broadcasting Corporation(BCN), Taoga Niue, Representative of the Writers Association and Senior Crown Counsel. The Niue Film Commission’s role is to promote Niue as a prime location for film and photography production, and to facilitate those productions. It will also act as a liaison between the film/photography producers and all relevant Government agencies particularly Customs, Police and Immigration, Community Affairs, Tourism
Office and village councils. The initial tasks of the Niue Film Commission is to formulate a TOR, strategic plan, operational policies, and strengthen relationship with the Association of Film
Commissioners International(AFCI). The Niue Film Commission will also put into place fees charging overseas film/photography producers whenever they shoot video footage on Niue. The Niue Film Commission can be contacted on phone (683)4148, fax (683)4183, 4232 and e-mail frank.sioneholo(at)investniue.com.
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20/06/07 PREMIER VIVIAN VERY HAPPY WITH VISIT TO CHINA
The Premier of Niue Hon Young Vivian assisted by Minister for Economic Development Hon Bill Vakaafi Motufoou led a high level delegation of about 20 from Niue to China during the last two weeks. The delegation return back last Friday, after high level talks and tour around China. China have agreed to donate NZD$1.7 million to Niue for economic development projects. Premier Vivian is very optimistic after the visit and have said that Niue will now consider entering into a bilateral relationship with China. China have also donated funds towards Niue Cyclone Heta recovery efforts. Niue is very concern with other bilateral partners in dealing with red tape, and have opted to diversify its partnership.
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16/05/07 GERMAN GRANT IMPORT PERMIT FOR NIUE CERTIFIED ORGANIC NONI JUICE
The Minister for Trade and Investment Hon Bill Vakaafi Motufoou was pleased to anounced that BLE German Federal Agency for Agriculture and Food www.ble.de has granted a new, amended import permit for certified organic noni juice for the territory of the European Union to Niue. As third country of origin there has been added first time ever - NIUE. The new import permit will expire on May 31, 2008 and can be extended right in time as usually.
All inspection certificates from AgriQuality from now on has to show the new number of our import permit: VG464-002.02
The company said they appreciate to have NIUE as a new major supplier for certified organic noni juice and hope that the export business will bring a properous benefit to the people of NIUE and make the country of NIUE more known to the public in the European Community. The first container shipment of noni juice processed in NIUE will reach the German market mid of June 2007 .
NCT Nord Trading has a licence granted by the European Commission to import and market noni juice as a novel food product within the European Union. NCT also serves eastern european markets like e.g. Ukraine und Russia.
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23/04/07 NIUE DEVELOPMENT BANK PRESS RELEASE: NDB granted a credit line with European Investment Bank for EURO 2 million
The Niue Development Bank signed an agreement on the 23rd February 07 with the European Investment Bank for a credit line of 2 million EU (equivalent to $3.6 million NZ$). This is underwritten and supported by the Government of Niue.
This facility is available to all Niue businesses specifically in the following sectors: Commerce, Agriculture, Fisheries, Industry, Agro-industry, Mining, Tourism, Energy, and Revenue generating infrastructure and related services.
Sectors that are excluded are: arms, tobacco, domestic housing and real estate (except for industrial real estate to be made available either through long leases or sale to industrial investors)
Finance under this credit line is available through the Niue Development Bank. Projects must be between EURO 50,000 (equivalent to NZ $91,000) and EURO 500,000 (equivalent to NZ $911,000) to be eligible for funding under this credit line. Projects that fall outside of this limit will be considered under NDB funding.
Lending guidelines are currently covered by NDB sector lending policies (available from Niue Development Bank on request) and is dependant on a number of factors including risk of project, term, affordability, and collateral offered. These policies are still under consideration by the Board and the public shall be notified of any changes.
Please contact the Niue Development Bank office on 4335 or devbank@niue.nu if you would like any information.
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20/04/07 NEW ZEALAND GOVERNOR GENERAL CAME EMPTY HANDED
The New Zealand's Governor-general Anand Satyanand, who is also the Governor general of Niue visited Niue from 10 to 12 April. This is his first overseas visit since taking up office and first to Niue. Despite the heavy rain at the flag raising ceremony to mark his visit, and Niueans soaked up wet to see their head of state, the Governor General brought nothing of a kind that is usually a tradition of visits by governor generals, whether anouncing a holiday for schools or conferring awards for those who have serve Niue well. But this does shows the strain relationship between Niue and New Zealand, although New Zealand have offered additional assistance to Niue, that assistance requires Niue to go through a lengthy "red tape" process which is really a delaying tactic dragging Niue to agree to New Zealand demands. Niue have a special relationship with New Zealand on equal partnership, which is the governing principles of New Zealand's assistance to Niue. Some residents on Niue commented that part of the problem is that New Zealand need also to inject some new blood into the aid administration that deal with Niue as key players like David Payton is from the colonial or post colonial era. New Zealand is now also very strict in its approach with nearly every NZAid project committee in Niue, including the national budget, where a New Zealand official is a member. Niue see this as direct interference with its internal affairs of a sovereign nation. This is describe by one official, like New Zealand is now in the kitchen calling on whatever ingredient to be used regardless of the recipe in the pot. About 20 expatriate Niuean professionals came also with the Governor General.
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13/04/07 KILOCUTZ PRODUCTION HOUSE TO INCREASE LOCAL PROGRAMMES ON TV
The Kilocutz Production House is a new media business own and operated by Shane Tohovaka from Makefu. The business aim at producing more local programmes including television commercials and documentaries for local and overseas organisations. Mr Tohovaka also works at the Broadcasting Corporation of Niue for over 5 years involving directly with television programme production. Kilocutz is presently producing 10 episodes 5 minutes duration each of "Simply Natural, Simply Beautiful, Simply Niue" - video focusing on showcasing some of the scenic sites around Niue. The series is very popular and will be available to the market soon. Kilocutz also have a vision to produce a short film one day.
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09/04/07 NEW E-LEARNING CAFE TO EQUIP NIUE WITH COMPUTER SKILLS
The Niue Computer Society(Inc.) have just open their e-Learning Cafe which will provide computer trainings for Niueans, this will also be used by the public for internet access. The e-Learning Cafe is currently under a partnership with a New Zealand company to provide online computer trainings to some Niueans. The online study mode is quite popular in Niue because the internet is free and the WiFi internet access in widely available in some villages. The e-Learning Cafe is part of the e-Government Project with funding support provided by UNDP.
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29/03/07 NIUE DEVELOPMENT BANK 2MILLION EUROS TO BOOST TOURISM DEVELOPMENTS
The Niue Development Bank is in the final stages of finalising the terms for the two million euro loan from a European bank. The fund will provide the much needed boost to the tourism and private sector developments in Niue. The Niue tourism industry need to increase accomodation capacity to meet the demand from the Air New Zealand weekly direct service from Auckland to Niue. There is also a NZD$2 million that is going to be provided by New Zealand Aid, but after two years of negotiation no real progress been made on moving this fund from Wellington to Niue. There is absolute frustration and disappointment among tourism industry players and Government negotiators, blaming New Zealand for the ongoing shifting of the goal posts and the amount of red tape involved.
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23/02/07 GOVERNMENT PLANNED 10% CUT TO REDUCE EFFECTS ON ECONOMY
This week the Premier Hon Young Vivian anounced that Cabinet has reconsidered its earlier decision on a 4 days work week, which planned for a 20% cut on salaries of some government employees. Government have now approved a 10% cut, affecting everyone on the government payroll regardless of status, from the Premier at the top to the casual worker at the bottom. The majority of Niue's labour force is employed in the government as the Government was traditionally the major employer in Niue. It comes down to the reality to employ people in order for them to remain on Niue as most will migrate overseas if there is no job. The private sector depend heavily on public servants as the major group of customers, the 10% cut will also be felt by those in the private sector. It the meantime New Zealand have yet to react in a proper manner in its duty as a partner, in a special relationship, to offer a better solution. The New Zealand High Commissioner to Niue HE Anton Ojala, sits in the Niue Budget Committee, whom some members of the public, who refuse to be named for own reasons, have voiced strong concern, as this is interfering with the internal affairs of a sovereign country. New Zealand is also working hard to help Niue, but also said to prefer Niue to solve it own problems internally. Niue is still crippled since 1992 when New Zealand cut its aid for budgetary support, forcing Niue to reduce its public service by half within six months. The employees that were made redudant pay their airfares with redundant payments, and left for New Zealand. The plan was for those made redudant to move into the private sector, in which most find it difficult to find sufficient customers to survive.
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28/01/07 AIR NEW ZEALAND EXTEND SERVICE TO NIUE
The tourism developments on Niue was given further boost just before the end of 2006, when the Government of Niue and Air New Zealand signed a agreement to further extend the air service currently provided by Air New Zealand to Niue.
Air New Zealand provide a weekly flight from Auckland to Niue direct, 3 and half hours flight, departing at Friday 10pm(NZ time) and arrive Niue at Friday morning 1am, crossing the international dateline.
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