Committee calls for government to expedite appointment of Niue diplomat to Wellington
Public Accounts Committee calls for government to expedite appointment of Niue High Commissioner to Wellington, which has been vacant since March 2023
The parliamentary select committee, the Public Accounts committee (PAC) has recommended to the government to expedite the appointment of Niue’s High Commissioner to New Zealand.
In its 42 page report, the PAC highlighted several recommendations for each of the government’s departments and agencies. The committee delivered its recommendations to the Niue Assembly after meeting with ministers and heads of the departments analyzing the government’s budget last month.
The committee recommended to the Secretary to Government to “Expedite the appointment of a Niue High Commissioner to New Zealand, prioritising the resolution of outstanding accommodation and structural compliance matters related to the official Wellington residence. This is essential to support the timely re-establishment of Niue’s diplomatic presence and effective bilateral engagement with New Zealand”
Niue’s diplomatic office in Wellington has been vacant since March 2023 when the last high commissioner Mr Fisa Pihigia completed his second term and returned to the island. Since then the government and Prime Minister Tagelagi has explained that the Niue residence in Thorndon, Wellington is under review to ensure it is complying with city council structural earthquake requirements.
The Niue government bought the property on Katherine Avenue during the late Sir Toke Talagi’s first term in government and in 2011 Hon. O’love Jacobsen moved into the residence as the third Niue High Commissioner to Wellington. Hima Douglas was the first high commissioner to New Zealand appointed in 2001, followed by Sisilia Talagi.
The committee also recommended that the government through the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet provide an account of the spending on the 50th anniversary of self-government celebrations last year. “That an itemised expenditure report on the 50th Constitution Celebrations be submitted to the Public Accounts Committee to uphold public accountability and promote best practice in the management of high-profile national events.”
The Public accounts committee identified in its report to the Assembly, system system-wide challenges affecting the effective use of public resources, including: • misalignment between appropriations and actual cash availability, • inconsistent planning and project justification, and • underutilised or ageing government assets and infrastructure.
According to the committees report, several recurring themes emerged from the consultations with departments, these include; • Staff shortages remain a persistent challenge, with multiple departments reporting difficulty in recruiting and retaining skilled personnel to deliver essential services.
• Cash flow constraints were commonly cited as impediments to timely implementation of planned activities, even where appropriations had been approved.
• Asset management and maintenance—including the procurement, upkeep, and utilisation of machinery and equipment—was identified as a key operational risk.
• Uncoordinated in-year spending plans proved challenging and limiting Treasury’s ability to effectively manage liquidity and prioritise funding.
The government’s 12.5 million deficit budget officially starts today, with an expenditure budget of $68.1 million dollars until 30th June next year.
The Public Accounts committee is led by MP from Alofi North Mr Tutuli Heka, Vice chair is MP from Lakepa Mrs Rhonda Tiakia-Tomailuga, common roll MP Hon. O’love Jacobsen, Hon. Dion Taufitu MP from Toi, MP from Makefu Mr Tofua Puletama, MP from Liku Mr Logo Seumanu and MP from Hakupu Mr Ritchie Mautama.
