POLITICAL REVIEWS 2°3 and causing "tensions" within cabinet cal future on Ka Awatea, now has only (NZH, 13 May 1991). There were rum- two years to implement it and resolve blings that it was a "separatist" policy issues whose etiology is steeped in one contradicting mainstreaming, and hundred fifty years of colonial history. opposed by Minister of Finance Ruth Although the obstacle of Pakeha hege- Richardson (NZH, 14 May 1991). At the monic domination is formidable for a heart of the matter was the NZ$239 mil- Maori of Mr Peters' political skills, the ~lion_hudget_neede(Lto_pI"Oceed_with_the_Ghanenge--is-w0Ffh-meefing, Maori development plan laid out by Ka RANGINUI J. WALKER Awatea. Mainstreaming would mean the dispersal of the Maori Affairs vote to other departments. Although Mr References Peters kept the Maori Affairs vote from NZH (New Zealand Herald) previous years intact, a belated attempt was made to undermine his position by Department of Justice. 1989. Principles of Crown Action on the Treaty of Waitangi. a leaked report of a government write- Wellington. off of NZ$90 million of bad loans on Maori land development schemes. Proceedings of the Hui Whakakotahi. 1990. "Anger in caucus" over the write-off Turangi. 6 August. was reported in the press, but it was ill conceived (NZH, 18 May 1991). Before the loans were written off, the minister NIUE sought advice from the Crown Law Office. It turned out that the govern- The year 199°-91 was one of limited ment itself was liable, because the recovery. In the aftermath of Cyclone loans had been incurred over a thirty- Ofa the New Zealand and Niue gov- year period by government officials ernments decided to extend the Niue within the old department of Maori Concerted Action Plan (providing affairs, and in more recent times by the funding through March 1991) to June outgoing Iwi Transition Agency. Many 1992. The two governments also com- of the loans had been made without mitted themselves to reviewing priori- reference to the landowners. But the ties for future planning and expendi- constructed reality in the media of Ka ture. Awatea as being controversial was New Zealand financial assistance epitomized by the editorial headlines remained critical. Funding levels in "Ka Awatea Kerfuffle" (NZH, 14 May 199°-91 were around NZ$10 million, 1991), and "Not another Maori Loans of which 70 percent went for budgetary Row" (NZH, 16 May 1991). The views support (principally public service sala- of the client minority of the govern- ries). Pressures for greater efficiency ment's Maori policy, and the media and reductions in expenditure construction of it in the press and on expressed during the New Zealand television, hardly figured at all. They Labour party's term of office continued were merely the victims. following the election of a National Mr Peters, who has staked his politi- party government in October. In Janu- 2°4 THE CONTEMPORARY PACIFIC· SPRING I992 ary New Zealand's deputy prime min- of reconstruction (NZ$I.5 million, most ister and minister for external relations of it from the New Zealand govern- and trade, Don McKinnon, stopped ment) sparked a ministerial rebellion briefly in Niue to advise the govern- that threatened the political survival of ment to use aid revenues to develop the Premier Sir Robert Rex. island's private sector. In September, only five months after In March it was announced that aid the assembly's reelection of Sir Robert iefls-fer-:f99:r-92.-arising-trQm---£QIIQwingJegislati~e_elections,£inanQ, New Zealand's own economic difficul- Minister Sani Lakitani called for a ties would necessitate the loss of up to change of leadership. A petition calling 120 public service positions, about 20 for the premier's resignation circulated percent of those employed. Cost-of-liv- among Niue's twenty legislators, and ing adjustments sought by public ser- attracted eleven signatures, including vants were ruled out. that of another cabinet minister, Frank Hopes for at least a modest eco- Lui. Sir Robert responded by inviting nomic revival, centering on tourism, the two disaffected ministers (half the brightened in July when a private com- cabinet) to resign, and when they pany, Niue Airlines, renewed air ser- refused, their ministerial warrants were vice to the island with a leased Boeing revoked. 737. Airport and runway lights, per- A motion of no-confidence criticized mitting night service, were commis- unauthorized spending on the hotel, sioned in October. government support for a local canning Plans were also announced for con- company, and the failure of Niue's struction of a new hotel and golf Development Finance Committee to course, but despite government offers produce audited accounts. When the of tax concessions and work permits vote was taken on 24 October, many of for key personnel, international invest- those who had signed the petition ment was not forthcoming. Additional defected, and the government survived tourist accommodation is to be pro- by a 15-5 margin. Opposition leader vided by Niuean residents, who have Young Vivian, who has not signed the been encouraged to apply for licenses petition, was brought into the cabinet to host visitors in their homes. The as minister of finance and another state-owned Niue Hotel, badly member of the assembly, Fisa Pihigia, damaged by Cyclone Ofa , was re- acquired the Works portfolio. opened at the end of May. Revenues These events strengthened Young generated by an expanded tourist Vivian's position as heir-apparent, as industry would complement Niue's there was sympathy for the view that other major sources of finance, aid the long-serving Rex should be permit- grants and remittances from Niueans ted to complete his final term. Young resident in New Zealand. Vivian's inclusion in the cabinet coin- The cabinet's decision to award the cided with a revival of initiatives focus- lease of the Niue Hotel to New Zea- ing on Niue's constitution, adopted in land interests provoked criticism from 1974. A Constitution Review Commit- local business interests, while the costs tee was established in October while POLITICAL REVIEWS 205 the government was under challenge. It other ventures, was also begun, with is chaired by Robert Rex, Jr, and the New Zealand support. It commenced six other members include the two lat- with Vaiea, Niue's most lightly popu- est cabinet appointees, as well as lated village (around 14 people). O'love Tauveve Jacobsen, the highest Other recent initiatives have a bear- polling islandwide candidate in the ing on the Niue Concerted Action April elections. Plan's objective of maintaining "a living _ _Wit~thenoteLreopenecLancLaiLsel:-----communit-y-inNiue.:'-~AErenclLtel vice restored, two of Niue's recent communications project completed obsessions faded, at least for the installation of a satellite dish and a fac- moment. Population numbers have sta- simile service, and the French govern- bilized and have attracted less com- ment is expected to assist with further ment. Niue's vulnerability to cyclones upgrading of Niue's telephone system. was emphasized again in December, Niuean's reliance on videos was however, when another storm, reduced when a one-channel television Cyclone Sina, washed away two tem- service was introduced with assistance porary roads (subsequently repaired) from Television New Zealand, which built following Ofa. provided equipment, technical assis- A more persistent problem, depen- tance, and programs and will be dence on New Zealand's weakened responsible for building transmission economy, has intensified Niue's search facilities. for alternatives. Australian assistance The various matters noted in this (approximately NZ$700,000) has been review suggest some progress with used for improvements to Niue's wharf respect to ongoing challenges. Follow- access road, while small numbers of ing international trends efforts are United Nations Development Program being made to privatize various state- personnel are providing technical run activities, and alternative ways of expertise in various fields. Young strengthening the island's economic Vivian has identified both the Eco- base are being explored. The new gov- nomic and Social Commission for Asia ernment, less a coalition of parties than and the Pacific, and the World Bank, as a realignment of personalities within potential donors. the Niue Assembly, brings additional Other initiatives focused on invest- contacts and experience while begin- ment possibilities. An Australian com- ning Niue's transition to new leader- pany, Avian Mining, received permis- ship. sion to prospect for minerals in STEPHEN LEVINE November. The government joined the Pacific Forum Line in September, purchasing several thousand dollars' TOKELAU worth of shares in a regional venture that does not presently visit Niue (ser- Recovery from February 1990'S viced largely by Cook Islands ship- Cyclone Ofa was a major priority for ping). A land titling program, intended policymakers during the year 1990-91. to facilitate forestry development and Government-sponsored programs