Emani Fakaotimanava-Lui, director of Internet Niue’s service provider RockET Systems Limited, has been elected to the board of the Pacific Islands Chapter of the world-wide Internet Society (PICISOC). He will also serve as PICISOC secretary for two years. The chapter, which represents the interests of Oceania-Pacific internet users, seeks to provide impartial and relevant advice … Read more …
What's Hot?
Lakepa tower now operating
14 August 2012A new Internet Niue transmission tower at Lakepa is now providing stable service to the north of the island. Emani Fakaotimanava-Lui of RockET Systems, Internet Niue’s service provider, says the transmitter has been tested for more than a month with good results. Internet users in Lakepa, Mutulau and Liku will be enjoying the benefits. “It … Read more …
Logo designer dies
9 July 2012Internet Niue is saddened by the death of Niue artist Charles Jessop, the designer of the Internet Niue logo. Mr Jessop, the art teacher at Niue High School, was one of a small group of artists who led the revival of interest in the distinctive Niuean designs traditionally used to decorate hiapo (tapa cloth). The … Read more …
Fascinating Niue
Noni plantation to expand
Niue’s organic noni farm will stay in business despite one of its owners, the Reef Group, going into receivership in November 2012.
Noni fruit growing at the Vaiea noni farm
In mid-2011 a group of Chinese businesspeople from New Zealand made arrangements to take large quantities of noni juice from Niue, the Cook Islands and Samoa.
The Vaiea farm, a joint venture between the Reef Group and the Government of Niue, was officially opened in October 2004. Its processing plant – described by the business owners as the most technologically advanced in the Southern Pacific – is capable of producing 100,000 litres of juice a month. Fruit from the farm is supplemented by fruit gathered from Niue’s native forests.
Noni (Morinda citrifolia) is an evergreen bush grown mainly in the islands of the South Pacific Islands and Southeast Asia. Its white fragrant flowers bloom out of cluster-like pods, which bear the noni fruit. The fruit, which resembles a small bread fruit, is fleshy and gel-like when ripe.
The juice is extracted when the fruit is almost ripe. It taste and smell are not pleasant but its health promoting properties have been recognised as a natural remedy in Polynesia for thousands of years. Its main attribute is its proven ability to boost the body’s immune system.
The main active ingredient in noni is proxeronine, which is converted by the body in to xeronine. Xeronine is a critical biochemical compound involved in a wide range of normal biochemical reactions of the human body.
The farm began an expansion programme in 2011, with the aim of doubling its size from 60 ha to 120 ha.
Niue premier Toke Talagi says the government is waiting for Reef’s receivers, PricewaterhouseCoopers, to say what they will do with their shares. Reef also had a half share in a huge fish processing plant on the island, which has been mothballed for seven years.
For more information about noni juice and how to buy it, click here.
Sources: Radio NZ International and Pure Pacifika
