PHAMA Plus donates two commercial water blasters for Niue

Last Thursday afternoon, the Australia and New Zealand High Commissioners of Niue handed over two important pieces of equipment to the government of Niue as part of the Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market Access plus programme, widely known as PHAMA, funded by the Australia and New Zealand governments. 

Despite the wet weather, the handover of the equipment held at Sir Robert’s Wharf went without a hitch. 

Two commercial water blasters were donated; one for the Ministry of Infrastructure and the other for the Biosecurity division of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF). 

Organised by the Department of DAFF, the programme heard from the Director of DAFF Poi Okesene, New Zealand High Commissioner Helen Tunnah, Australia High Commissioner H.E. Louise Ellerton, Minister for Infrastructure Hon. Crossley Tatui, and Minister of Natural Resources Hon. Mona Ainu’u. 

The programme concluded with the official handover of the equipment from the Australia and New Zealand High Commissioners to the Ministers Hon. Mona Ainu’u and Hon. Crossley Tatui by the shaking of hands. 

BCN news spoke to the Minister of Natural Resources and Biosecurity Hon. Esa Mona Ainu’u to explain the significance of the water blasters that have been donated for Niue. 

“A lot of the standards required within other ports in New Zealand that we export to, these are part of the requirements to make sure that our containers are clean…in the last boat our water blaster burst, so in good timing these have arrived.”

“We give thanks to them for allowing us to be the appreciative recipients of these two water blasters”, says Hon. Ainu’u. 

A great deal of help especially for the biosecurity division.