One way quarantine-free from Niue soon -- and more (pn702)

 

Alofi, the capital. Ships anchor off and ferry
to the jetty

NZ PM Jacinda Ardern and Niue Premier Dalton Tagelangi have announced that travellers from Niue will be able to enter NZ quarantine-free from Wednesday week, March 24th. Travel to Niue, however, which has had no cases of the virus, will be limited and strict quarantine observed.

Niue is in Western Polynesia, 2.400 km NE of NZ, between Tonga, Samoa, and the central Cook Islands in Eastern Polynesia. It is  far different from the high volcanic, reef fringed islands and low atolls of popular imagination. 

262km², 14 villages

Matavai Hotel

One of largest coral islands in the world, it is a raised atoll comprising an upper terrace some 60 metres above sea level and a lower terrace at 25 metres. There is a narrow rocky reef and virtually no sandy beaches. Fishermen typically carry their canoes down a cliff to the water. Tourism potential is limited, but a week in the only hotel is a relaxing experience. 

Swimming

Settled from Tonga about 900AD, visited by  Cook who called it Savage Island —warriors stained in dye that Cook took for blood prevented his three attempts to land;  it is now a self-governing island in free association with NZ. NZ looks after defence and foreign affairs; Niueans care for everything else. NZ's earlier attempts to "develop" the island are related in a previous posting (pn593). The official responsible for agriculture had no economics or agriculture training. His prior job was a clerk in Levin!

Talo: subsistence agriculture, digging stick and cane knife

I was there in 1971, producing a land use map and researching emigration, when Hanan international Airport was opened, which was intended to help development, but mainly accelerated emigration. Today, some 1,600 Niueans live in Niue, 25,000 in NZ and 5,000 in Australia.  The main sources of income are remittances from overseas relatives and aid. Subsistence agriculture is the main source of employment. 

-- ACW

AN ASIDE. I've just complained to my wife that the America's Cup TV announcers  strive to crack weak jokes but do not tell us the meaning of knots, VMG, TWS, and the start  and give-way rules which would help us to much better understand and enjoy the racing. 

This seems to be the mode in journalism today, entertainment takes precedence over information and explanation. Even the 6 o'clock News is limited — insert a map in the upper right of the screen, and a text note bar at the bottom, and we'd be far better informed. Use TV to educate and add to our knowledge.  Readers will note that this is what I try to do in most of my postings.

pn593. NZ's backfiring aid to Niue: a story from the 1970s

I was in Niue soon after the official opening of Hanan International Airport in 1970, working on  a map of land use and researching emigration at the village level. The opening of the airport did nothing for land use but it sure accelerated emigration from the villages.  

At the same time, the NZ Administration had a development plan based on agriculture. There was no tourism then. There's some now and also some signs of agricultural renewal now that development is in Niuean hands. But this is before the time of my story. 

I'm reminded of Niue by our Pacific Reset programme, that deals with aid and makes no mention of agricultural exports, and recent NZ concessions to Vanuatu to import  —wait for it—50 tonnes of taro and cassava.  They had been lobbying us for years to take some imports.  But all that's another story. Back to Niue.

1. The Pacific Islanders: "leeches" that "don't matter"

In this first part of a series of three,  Newstalk ZB commentator Helen du Plessis-Allan offers her opinions on the relationship between Pacific Islanders and New Zealand.

pn87

Part-Afrikaner Helen du Plessis-Allan, who emigrated to NZ aged 12, proudly wrote an anti-apartheid essay before leaving South Africa  and just as proudly recalls mixing with Maori and Pasifika students at her decile  2 Auckland secondary school.   

She professes a life-long interest in politics and admits enjoyment in reminding politicians they have feet of clay.

Now 34 and married to fellow journalist 66-year old Barry Soper she would dispute she is "just another Hosking" as those who dislike her opinions maintain.  

But there are similarities. Both are self-opinionated, both insult those who attack them, both seek sensational headlines, both are ultra right-wing, and, most importantly,  both regularly fail to provide any evidence to support their opinions, and both lack any sense of context or history.

This is nowhere better illustrated than in du Plessis-Allan's  recent attack on the PM for attending the Pacific Islands Forum meeting in Nauru and her follow-up comment that the Pacific Islands "don't matter." 

"They are nothing but leeches on us." she said. "The Pacific Islands wants (sic!)  money from us."

So much for the accusations. I was now waiting for some facts, argument or evidence  to support them, but all I'm left with is her unsupported opinions with no indication on whether  they were formed as a result of her study, research  or experience. 

This is a trait she shares with Mike Hosking. Make a provocative statement, deflect attention from the need for evidence by attacking those who disagree -- and bask in the publicity received.