Third NZ relief flight bound for Niue tomorrow

Urgently-needed skills and supplies will be included in the third RNZAF C-130 relief flight bound for Niue tomorrow (Wednesday), Foreign Minister Phil Goff said today.

Mr Goff, Niue Premier Young Vivian and Australian High Commissioner to New Zealand Dr Alan Hawke will travel on the flight, which leaves from Whenuapai airbase early tomorrow. It will carry asbestos-handling equipment, chainsaws, water supply equipment, and food.

“The passenger list includes several tradespersons with skills needed to help with the clean-up and restoration of essential services, including telecommunications experts, builders, plumbers, electricians and a doctor,” Mr Goff said.

“As well as getting a direct overview of the damage done and what is required in the reconstruction process, I will be meeting with Niue Cabinet Ministers, private sector representatives, our High Commissioner, Sandra Lee Vercoe, and her staff,” Mr Goff said.

Mr Goff will spend around six hours on Niue before the aircraft returns around midnight.

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>