Source: Niue Star

On 20 September, New Zealand will go to the polls in search of its 51^st group of parliamentarians and government.

Three months ago, all predictions pointed to a comfortable win and third term in government for the National Party. At its height, National were so far ahead of everyone else they had enough support to govern alone.

But how things can change. And with the 2014 election campaigns, change has happened with maximum gravity that with only two weeks to the 20 September polling day, National’s campaign lies in tatters.

The ‘Dirty Politics’ revelations, and Justice Minister Judith Collins resignation just two of the key events that pushed ‘Team John Key’ tumbling down the polls and possibly, out of the Beehive’s ninth floor to the opposition benches.

The difficulty for John Key and National is two-fold.

First he needs to fight his way back up the popularity stakes and win voters swept away by the negative tide of Nicky Hager’s ‘Dirty Politics’ and twitter dumps by ‘Whaledump’. At the same time he’s got to be ready for the 15 September ‘dooms day’ revelation by Kim Dotcom and any loose sideswipes by Whaleoil Blogger Cameron Slater whose email led to Judith Collins’ resignation. As well as continue on the campaign trail.

The second difficulty is the rise in popularity and public status of the Green Party.

When coupled with the likelihood of Winston Peters holding the balance of power, it means Team John Key is no longer jogging up a small incline, but now scaling Mt Everest. If John Key does conquer his Everest, he will certainly be worthy of a place amongst New Zealand’s greatest leaders.

But the talking point of these elections, increasingly, is the rise of the Greens, the increasing volume of supporters, and their march up to 16% on the Roy Morgan poll on Wednesday last week, their highest since April 2012. And the reason for that is because they are a party whose philosophy and policies are becoming ‘in sync’ with New Zealanders, and the Green movement becoming a global economic push by the world’s super powers. This was highlighted with the success of the largest United Nations meeting the Pacific region, in Samoa last week – SIDS 2014.

The Greens philosophy and policies are a close fit with the Pacific way of viewing the world as well. Through the lens of the environment and from the perspective of social harmony through collectives.

But let’s be clear, not all Green policies resonate with Pacific people.

However, since its formation as the Values Party in 1972 to the formal Greens Party in 1990, they have evolved to a stage where their 2014 platform we see today, is a well-tuned compilation of policies based on New Zealanders needs, and a strategic campaign plan since 2008.

In 2014, two weeks away from the elections, the Greens have been on the campaign trail as a group that feel their time has come. A feeling that find many Kiwis seeing them as the leading ‘left-wing’ party rather than Labour.

On that leadership podium, their co-leader, Mrs Metiria Turei announced late last month their policies and manifesto are primed to tackle the two greatest challenges “of our time: inequality and climate change.”

She added, “Or a government in denial of both.”

Their latest announcement, on Tuesday this week, about a ‘Workers Policy’ sees them going further inside a territory where no other political party has dared to go in the past 30 years – stopping the neo-liberal system that controls New Zealand’s economy.

A system the Greens blame for the increasing inequality in New Zealand. A system that has caused widespread poverty by allowing the wealth of New Zealand to be kept by the rich and not allowed to ‘trickle down’ to the poor through higher wages.

Mrs Turei said, “[New Zealand’s] GDP grew by 38 per cent between 1988 and 2013, yet child poverty doubled in those same years?”.

The trends she said are “nearly three decades of rock solid proof that wealth doesn’t trickle down, especially not to our kids.”

A statement that is in line with revelations by the Council of Trade Unions (July 2014), that the successful neo-liberal attack against working people in the late 1980s and afterwards robbed workers of a sum of wealth equivalent to at least $660 billion dollars in today’s money.

But for the first time in nearly thirty years of National and Labour governments, the Green Party is breaking the mold, to announce they are a Government that will be prepared to tackle neo-liberal economics. They have announced their economic plans that will bring in “…a time for cleaner, fairer, smarter New Zealand,” stated Mrs Turei.

At the core of the Green attack against neo-liberal economics is none other than ‘Aroha’. A term Pacific people know well.

“Now is the time to say:  Aroha mai. Aroha atu. When love is given, love is returned,” said Mrs Turei.

As an example of how ‘Aroha’ will deliver on one of the policies – ‘workers’ policy’ – the Greens will fulfill that promise by: (1) Lifting low wages by moving the minimum wage to $18 an hour by 2017 and introducing a Living Wage for the core Government sector.
(2) A new legislative minimum redundancy package of four weeks’ pay.
(3) Bringing top pay back into line requiring companies to report on the gap between top and bottom pay.
(4) Measures to boost bargaining power and make workplaces safer and more democratic.

Mrs Turei explained, “Under National, wages are not enough for many workers and their families to cover the basics and they are not enough to raise kids out of poverty.

“Half of all kids below the poverty line have parents in work and nearly 40 per cent have parents who are in full time work. Under National, the number of kids growing up in poverty in working households is growing, as wages fail to keep pace with rising housing costs.

“In contrast to National the Green Party is committed to make work pay, and to be a real pathway out of poverty. In Government, the Green Party will lift the minimum wage to $15 this year and gradually increase it to $18 an hour by 2017.”

The Green’s minimum wage policy will raise pay packets for half a million New Zealanders in their first term she said.

“A single person on the minimum wage will have $125 a week or $6,400 a year more in the pocket under the Green Party policy. A typical low-paid two-adult, two-child family will have $60 a week or $3,300 a year more because of the Living Wage, even once current Working for Families abatements are taken into account.

“In order to make wage increases really pay, we will also allocate $70 million a year to amend abatement rates to Working for Families so parents who work can keep more of what they earn as their wages rise.

“Our wages policy is a core part of our plan to tackle child poverty by ensuring working families earn enough to live.

“Our policy will benefit the hundreds of thousands of New Zealand workers who simply don’t earn enough to cover their basic costs.

“Employers will benefit from our policy too, as staff who are paid fairly work harder and are more productive.

“The Government needs to lead by example when it comes to lifting worker’s wages so all core public service workers will be paid a Living Wage.

“Workers need greater economic security when they lose their job. To deliver this we will require all employment agreements to contain a minimum redundancy provision of four weeks’ pay.

“This new legislative requirement will ensure workers are better looked after at one of the toughest times, when they are laid off from their job.

“Our workers plan will restore the Kiwi dream that is built on the idea that if you work hard, and do your fair share, your income will rise consistently and workers will have what they need for a good life,” said Mrs Turei.

But it is Aroha, the rock on which the Greens have built their house.

“Show us the love for New Zealand,” Mrs Turei announced when the Green’s launched their campaign last month.

“We are a country of people, a community at the bottom of the world that cares for one another, looks out for one another, and provides for one another.”

It is “Love” she says that will solve the two most serious crises of “our time” the ‘Environment and Inequality’. When the two are resolved, all other social problems New Zealand is grappling with, will also be cured.

 

The National Party list for the 2014 election brings together a strong mix of both experienced political leaders and fresh new talent, says National Party President Peter Goodfellow.

“Our 2014 list shows the benefit of our ongoing rejuvenation programme. If National was able to match its election result from 2011, we would bring in as many as 13 new MPs, alongside 46 returning MPs.

“With the depth of talent we have to choose from, settling on a list that balances new blood alongside valuable experience was not an easy task. However, we believe we’ve struck the right mix that will allow for renewal and continued stability in a third term.”

A list ranking committee made up of about 30 delegates from around New Zealand gathered in Wellington yesterday to settle on the List rankings for the September 20 election.

Mr Goodfellow believes the list underlines National’s credentials as a strong economic manager which is working hard for all New Zealanders to deliver more jobs, better public services, and higher wages.

“Our list draws on people from all walks of life, from the social sector, to medicine, business, and agriculture. We have a good blend of candidates from a variety of diverse backgrounds.”

Mr Goodfellow says that sitting MPs and Ministers have been broadly ranked in their current order, but also notes there are a number of electorates with new candidates who are likely to join #TeamKey in September.

“The Party is in great heart, and I want to thank all those MPs who are retiring at this election for their contribution to their country. I also want to thank their families for the sacrifices so many of them have made to support a busy MP.

“Despite positive polling the National Party has a huge task ahead to ensure our supporters get out and vote at this election. An unstable far left coalition remains a very real risk to New Zealand’s positive outlook.

We’ll be working very hard until polling day to sell our positive cohesive plan for New Zealand that builds strongly in what the country has achieved over the last six years.”

The National Party List for the 2014 General election is:

1       John Key                       Helensville

2       Bill English                   List

3       David Carter               List

4       Gerry Brownlee          Ilam

5       Steven Joyce               List

6       Judith Collins              Papakura

7       Hekia Parata               Mana

8       Chris Finlayson          Rongotai

9       Paula Bennett             Upper Harbour

10    Jonathan Coleman    Northcote

11     Murray McCully        East Coast Bays

12    Anne Tolley                 East Coast

13    Nick Smith                   Nelson

14    Tim Groser                   New Lynn

15    Amy Adams                Selwyn

16    Nathan Guy                Otaki

17    Craig Foss                     Tukituki

18    Simon Bridges             Tauranga

19    Nikki Kaye                   Auckland Central

20    Michael Woodhouse   Dunedin North

21    Jo Goodhew                  Rangitata

22    Chester Borrows         Whanganui

23    Todd McClay                Rotorua

24    Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga    Maungakiekie

25    Nicky Wagner             Christchurch Central

26    Lindsay Tisch              Waikato

27    Louise Upston              Taupo

28    Tim Macindoe             Hamilton West

29    Jami-Lee Ross              Botany

30    Paul Goldsmith           Epsom

31    Melissa Lee                   Mt Albert

32    Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi            Manukau East

33    Jian Yang                     List

34    Alfred Ngaro                Te Atatu

35    Maurice Williamson  Pakuranga

36    Jacqui Dean                 Waitaki

37    David Bennett             Hamilton East

38    Jonathan Young         New Plymouth

39    Brett Hudson               Ohariu

40    Maggie Barry              North Shore

41    Ian McKelvie                Rangitikei

42    Mark Mitchell              Rodney

43    Simon O’Connor         Tamaki

44    Mike Sabin                   Northland

45    Scott Simpson             Coromandel

46    Paul Foster-Bell           Wellington Central

47    Joanne Hayes              Christchurch East

48    Parmjeet Parmar       Mt Roskill

49    Chris Bishop                 Hutt South

50    Nuk Korako                  Port Hills

51    Jono Naylor                 Palmerston North

52    Maureen Pugh            West Coast – Tasman

53    Misa Fia Turner          Mangere

54    Todd Barclay               Clutha-Southland

55    Andrew Bayly             Hunua

56    Matt Doocey                 Waimakariri

57    Sarah Dowie                Invercargill

58    Barbara Kuriger         Taranaki-King Country

59    Todd Muller                 Bay of Plenty

60    Shane Reti                    Whangarei

61    Alastair Scott              Wairarapa

62    Stuart Smith               Kaikoura

63    Wayne Walford          Napier

64    Simeon Brown             Manurewa

65    Hamish Walker          Dunedin South

66    Lewis Holden               Rimutaka

67    Karl Varley                  Wigram

68    Candidate TBA            Kelston

69    Linda Cooper               List

70    Letitia O’Dwyer          List

71    Mark Bridges               List

72    Boris Sokratov             List

73    Matthew Evetts          List

74    Carolyn O’Fallon        List

75    Christopher Penk       List

Hafeiki Vilitama woke up one Monday morning, his senses eased as the familiar sounds of life ebbed in and around Mutalau. It was the 16^th day of December 2013.

His ears celebrated at the wind breezing through trees, weaving its way amongst grass before crossing the road into his house. It felt stronger on his face than yesterday he thought, but that’s to be expected as it is cyclone season. The chickens were out, clucking and fighting searching for food, while next door, his grandchildren were getting ready to go to work at Hakupu and Alofi.

He held his breath in expectation, and then, there it was, the sounds of cups and plates in the kitchen as Faseletama, his wife, his soulmate and companion over the past 65 years, was preparing breakfast.

But then an unfamiliar sound. A car turning into their driveway bringing with it an unexpected visitor. It was High Commissioner, Mark Blumsky carrying two official looking letters.

And they were special, encased in the whitest of envelopes.

One was from the Governor General, Sir Jerry Mateparae, the highest ranking official of Niue representing its Head of State, Queen Elizabeth II. The other from the Prime Minister of New Zealand, the Rt Honourable, John Key.

Mr Blumsky sat down opposite Hafeiki and Faseletama in their small cyclone rebuilt house. It needs a repaint thought Vilitama as the High Commissioner slowly unzipped the envelopes. As Mr Blumsky tenderly opened the leaves of paper and started to read their contents, an emotional Hafeiki could only hear some of the words he spoke.

From Prime Minister Key’s letter he heard: “Our success as a nation relies on people from all walks of life stepping forward, helping others, seeking new ways of doing things, and reaching for their dreams. You have made an outstanding contribution to that success and have enriched the lives of us all.”

Is John Key talking about me, Vilitama thought to himself.

Sir Mateparae’s letter said: “I am delighted to inform you that Her Majesty the Queen has been pleased to appoint you as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in recognition of your services to Niue.”

When it finally sank in, Vilitama said to himself, “who am I that these gentlemen have gone to the trouble to send me these letters congratulating me?”

But accept the letters and invitation to the Auckland ceremony they did. And on 27 March 2014, Hafeiki and Faseletama were with members of their family in Epsom, at Government House where Sir Mateparae, decorated Vilitama with the award from the Queen.

Three weeks later, on 18 April, Vilitama was in his beloved cyclone proof house in Mutalau, giving an exclusive interview to the Niue Star talking candidly about his career and life. Following are mere snippets of Vilitama’s story as told to Lealaiauloto Fatu Tauafiafi.

“When Mark Blumsky came that day with the letters it was a surprise to us. A very nice surprise I might add,” he smiled at the memory back in December last year.

“Once I got over the initial emotion, I felt very happy and humbled. The award made me feel young again,” he laughed. “But more than that, it was an award I felt is for the people of Niue. I hope it is something they will be proud of.”

Vilitama was born on 10 June 1929 in Mutalau. From a very young age he was an achiever, someone that was ahead of his time – a trailblazer firstly in his chosen field of education, then in politics and as a community and religious leader. He also secured the love of his life, Faseletama, marrying her in their late teens and the two have been inseparable for 65 years and counting.

In his 40-year career as an educator, Vilitama rose from the ranks of high achieving student to be hand-picked to take up teaching. He was fast-tracked through to head teacher status before he was employed by the Education Department to develop the Niuean curriculum.

In the short space of time he was at central office, Vilitama created history when he became the first local Niuean to be appointed Director of Education. The year was 1978.

“I remember that day very clearly,” recalled Vilitama. “I was at my desk working on the Niuean curriculum. It was hard work because I was working from scratch. No one had done this before so I was creating something new-and I was doing this on my own.

“Anyway, on this particular day, the Director, a gentleman from New Zealand, walked by, stood at my door, and in a stern and loud voice said to me, ‘Mr Vilitama, I want to see you in my office now’.

“I was shocked, my heart raced and my eyes started watering. I got up and as I followed him to his office, I was shaking and asking myself, ‘what have I done?’.

“When we got to his office, there was a chair in front of his desk, he looked at me and said, ‘Sit down’. He stared at me, not in a friendly way and then all of sudden said, ‘Do you know who will be the next Director when I leave?”

Vilitama told the writer his mind was still scrambling at the time trying to figure out what he may have done wrong. As he desperately searched for reasons, he heard a voice in the background saying, “No sir, I have no idea sir”. He thought the voice sounded familiar until he pinched himself that he recognised it was his voice answering. As he submitted himself to fate, to take whatever punishment coming his way, when the Director pointed his finger and said, “You will be the next director when I leave.”

“I felt numb at that moment, I was lost, my mind couldn’t think but at the same time I felt like I was floating somewhere else and there was this sweetness in the air.”

When he finally got a hold of his senses, Vilitama told the Director, “Can you give me time to think it over?”

“Yes” he said, “But don’t take too long.”

It took a few days. With guidance from Faseletama, he returned with his answer. But this time, he had conditions of his own. Because before he takes up his post, Vilitama had to go to Wellington, New Zealand where the Public Service was being managed from. It was a trip that will also take in observations and tours of New Zealand’s education system and models at Wanganui, Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch.

“I accepted the offer and then the Director asked if I had any questions before I go on the trip. So I said to him, ‘what if I ask to take my wife with me?’. ‘Yes you can take your wife with you. Any more questions?, he said’.

“I replied, ‘Yes what if I want to take a granddaughter with me?’ ‘Yes you can take your granddaughter with you”.

And with that, Hafeika, Faseletama and their granddaughter went to New Zealand for orientation. Wellington was their base, where they stayed with Hafeiki’s sister, Moka and her reverend minister husband, Lagi Sipeli.

A common question people seemed to ask him was where was he educated.

“I always give them the same answer, every time. ‘I was educated under the coconut tree in Niue’,” he laughed, “Yes truly, that is what I tell people all the time.”

Like most of his former career appointments, there were no interviews. Right from the start, when he won Dux twice at Form 1 and Form 2, he was one of five people selected to train as teachers. From that post he was quickly promoted to become Head Teacher in various schools around Niue.

It was one of those Head Teacher secondments that landed him in one of the more controversial moments of his career – a teachers strike at Matalave, Niue’s largest primary school at the time with a roll of more than 200 pupils.

When Matalave’s head teacher fell ill, the department seconded Vilitama as Head Teacher there. A number of teachers went on strike as soon as he turned up. After two days and on the back of a ‘no-nonsense’ radio notice by the department, the teachers returned to meet with the Director.

Recalled Vilitama, “The Director said to them, ‘fellas why did you leave school and go home?’” The ringleader said they didn’t want Vilitama as Head Teacher, because one of them should have been appointed.

The Director was very blunt with them said Vilitama. “No one here is better than Vilitama, that’s why he’s here to run the school,” recalled Vilitama. “Then he told them the two days they didn’t turn up for work will be leave without pay.

“Moving forward, I was very strict with them. So much so that when the department came back, they saw the teachers have changed and the school was functioning really well. In the end, when their Head Teacher recovered, came back to work and I went back to my school.”

In 1984, after 40 years of service Vilitama took early retirement so he can dedicate himself to other areas of life.

“We are here on this earth only for a very short time. So for me, I try to be as happy as I can, to enjoy myself while I’m here. But to enjoy life doing the right thing, loving and caring for one another.

On the 18th of June 2014, Hafeiki and Faseletama celebrated their ‘diamond’ wedding anniversary. It was at Mutalau where Hafeiki was born, married, worked and is living out his final days.

But as they walk in the twilight of their lives, there is sadness at the uncertainty surrounding the future of Vilitama’s beloved Niue.

“One of the things that worry me a lot today, is the declining population. What will happen to our island?”.

He remembers all to well the excitement and future potential in the eyes of Niueans when they celebrated self-governance in 1974. But how wrong they were, that was the start of the depopulation that today still threatens Niue’s survival with a mere 1600 people from those days when there were up to 6,000 people living on Niue.

“I was teaching Lialagi school in 1974. I remember everything was so great and everyone was looking forward to a beautiful future.

“There was the huge feast on the Alofi village green. But then after the celebrations, the doors opened and our people started to move out of Niue. It was not individual people but entire families, total lineage uprooted leaving untended lands and empty houses behind.”

Over the years he records his own observation about the migration that’s killing his country.

“In Mutalau, we had more than 60 houses with families living in them. Now, we only 23 houses with people living in them. In those 23 houses live about 80 people. But what’s really worrying is that only three of the families have young ones. The rest are old people, like us, who are no longer able to make families.”

On top of depopulation is the increasing number of migrants.

“Already at Vaiea, the Tuvalu people are growing in numbers all the time. We have less than 20 Niueans there now. We now have Tongans, Fijians, Samoans, Filipinos, Nigerians, Chinese, I have nothing against them its just that I see our numbers dwindling.”

And although he sees the rapidly increasing number of Niueans in New Zealand and Australia, his concern is about the loss of the intangibles that make Niue unique. The nuances of its culture and traditions, their connections to its flora and fauna and stories found only on Niue – “the type of education our young people are learning overseas do not contain our stories, and that is what I’m very worried about, because, what can we do about it?”

He does take heart from developments in Auckland where he watched and admired the performance and dance at the Polyfest festival.

“One of the primary schools performing their beautiful singing and I can hear real Niuean sounds and pronunciation of words was pure Niuean to the ears. I was hoping that the context of those words, how our language and images from our environment where those words were constructed are learned by those beautiful young children.”

As the father of education in Niue, the Queen’s honour acknowledging that service is a proud moment. But there is light in Vilitama’s eyes that he would trade it in an instant if there was a solution that would secure the future of Niue’s taonga and way of life.

The Niue Star and Pacific Guardians congratulate Hafeiki and Faseletama on their award and we celebrate your diamond wedding anniversary. May we share your company for many many more years to come.

Click to view slideshow.

New Zealand has a major workforce problem, it is short of skilled tradespeople. For the Canterbury rebuild alone, it needs 35,000 workers.

In July 2013, Immigration minister Mr Woodhouse estimated “there are only 18,000 currently in the country”.

The Allied Workers Federation (AWF) on their website state: “to have any chance of delivering the necessary skills and servicing the country’s needs in the next 10 years there must be a much greater focus on increasing this pool of skilled Tradespeople.”

A readymade population pool of Pacific and Maori remained untapped until the National government stepped into this space in 2012 and set-up a pilot Pasefika and Maori Trades Training Initiative targeting each group separately.

Its approach to Pacific was different as it identified and reached out to Pacific churches as a key partner to success.

A year later, in its 2013 budget, government committed to the scheme and increased its funding investment to $43million over four years. The funding provides a fees-free place to participants and $4,000 per learner for the fees subsidy and additional pastoral care.

In this new phase, the two groups were brought under one umbrella, the Maori and Pasifika Trades Training Initiative, with the new national goal of recruiting and training 3000 scholars in four years. Management of the program in different regions will be through Consortia of Maori/Pacific organisations, tertiary education organisations, and employers.

For Pasifika’s 1,500 quota, the aim is to provide:

• a pathway for Pasifika learners who would not normally enter trades training
• to increase their opportunities for future employment within chosen trades
• an opportunity for Pasifika learners to continue on to study higher level qualifications within  tertiary study.

In the Wellington region, scholars take up their trades training at Weltec in Petone and Whitreia in Porirua, while the Pacific Ministers Forum provide the recruitment and pastoral care.

Earlier this week on Tuesday, Whitireia’s inaugural intake of 21 recipients held a small celebration to acknowledge all of them achieving first semester milestones. And an opportunity to meet the people behind the Wellington Consortium.

The gathering also served two other purposes. For students to formally present their work to the management group; and for Whitireia’s management and church leaders to fine-tune their partnership and collaborative approach to the scheme.

There is a lot riding on the success of these first scholars-for all parties concerned.

Rev Nove Vaila’au represents the church ministers group on the Consortium. He told students, “We want a 100 per cent success at graduation. You are the first lot in this new journey and if you do it well then others will also come along and take part in this opportunity.

“So you have a responsibility in receiving that scholarship to make sure that you pass, that you attend everyday, and make sure that you do all the work that is given to you by your tutors, nothing less.”

He added, “On our part, we are doing everything in our power to push the whole scheme so when you graduate from here … that you go through to an apprenticeship scheme.”

To achieve a 100 per cent success for students will involve an enormous amount work outside the classroom, both at Whitireia campus and in the wider community.

The new undertaking discussed at the meeting on Tuesday will break new grounds in education delivery for Pacific communities. It is proposing a merging of the formal and informal sectors at a regional scale. The challenges involved are not standard.

What is known by the Samoan and Pacific community is that education success for their children must include cultural and religious context, and changes looked resetting of mindsets and behaviour of all parties, from students, staff, community leaders and individual families.

Overall success will also need more specific government intervention, to put in place concrete pathways that will connect the scheme directly with apprenticeships and jobs. That sought for government intervention if it happens will increase Pacific business participation and success. It will lead to certification that will unlock the potential for self-employment and populate a Pacific network of trades professionals and enterprises.

The challenges stunting Pacific students achieving in education have been known for a while but a formal process that encapsulates a Pacific solution taking in the informal and formal sectors is not in place.

It is not easy as the complexity involved in extending and merging a tertiary institute’s staff, learning, administration, counseling, student policies framework and intellectual property into the social fabric of the community and individual families’ homes is enormous.

But that is exactly the undertaking being constructed by Whitireia and Pacific church leaders in this case.

If successful, it will advance a paradigm shift on a way Pacific students approach learning, and creation of support networks to maintain and enhance it. On the other side, provide a guide for the formal education system to realign its teaching approach and pedagogies in key areas that will unlock Pacific students’ learning potential.

The church itself, in providing pastoral care under the Scheme, has revised its approach to add social intervention to its spiritual mission.

“It’s about changing the mentality of our people from waiting to be saved to one about what is the long-term thinking of parents towards their children. As they enter into college and beyond, how do they want things to be for him or her?”

It has meant pushing churches to set-up educational program within the community.

“Initiatives like mentoring programs are now starting to happen and making homes as educational positives that provide support and encouragement. Essentially what we’re saying is that the future of our people become part of our ongoing work and lives – a more holistic approach.”

That holistic approach has been extended to Whitireia.

“If you come across a student going through difficulty and don’t know where the problem is, we would be very happy to come into that discussion,” Rev Nove told Whitireia managers.

“Maybe our connection to the communities, our access to the language could be the answer.”

The vision of the group repeated Rev Nove, “100 per cent going in and 100 per cent coming out – so anything that gets in the way and jeopardies that means we need to work together to solve that problem. We cannot let it go without finding a way to solve it – there has to be a way.”

Rev Nove has been involved with the Pasefika Trades Training from day-one. Money he said is not the issue at this early stage.

“As a community, we want our members of congregation to be employed. We would like our Pacific people to go to the right jobs,” he said.

“We have been doing this without money from the beginning because what has never clouded in the minds of our organisations is that what we are doing is for the future – that is all. We are very enthusiastic about that. With or without money, we will do it.”

For Whitireia managers Charles Aliva and Leisha Williams, the pastoral care element is crucial.

One aspect of the pastoral care work is to rebuild a student’s educational toolbox and put them back on track.

A case in point is a student who dropped out of school at 15 and came back at 18 to study.

“These are hands on courses and many young people in those situations do not have the core skills to start with, let alone deal with it,” said Charles, who is the Pastoral Care Coodinator.

Students confidence in their abilities at the start would be low, and the education environment itself would be intimidating and can end up being the cause of failure rather than any lack of academic ability he said.

Leisha, the Pacific Success Advisor works with staff from different areas and students “identifying anything that will get in the way. It’s about promoting success and getting away from the deficit model that Pacific islands students do not do well.

“For us, the expectation is that students at Whitireia are going to succeed and if there’s anything that’s going to get in the way of that then we will find what that is and a way to overcome that.”

An example said Leisha is provision of “academic support in terms of writing, reading and their assignments or connecting them with the right services or their tutors.”

It’s about building resilience, capability and confidence to succeed within a tertiary environment.

Charles, agrees and says that is where most of the time and resources in the program are invested.

“The time and effort we spend on pastoral care gets everything aligned. It is what determines the success of the program because these recipients do not come straight from a classroom or work environments.”

But all the training will not guarantee an apprenticeship or training. That is where the priority focus of the Reverends Forum and Whitireia management is now focused.

“In between the training and employment there is an apprenticeship that needs to happen,” Rev Nove told students.

“However, out there in the market it’s very difficult to make sure that that is in place but we’re trying our best.”

The Consortium’s efforts will be made easier if students at Whitireia and Weltec provide them with the ammunition of a 100 per cent pass rate at the end of the 2014 training program.

It will also be an indication that New Zealand’s shortage of skilled Tradespeople is being addressed.

 

2014 PASIFIKA TRADES SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

Name                                             Trade                          Ethnicity

Robert Vaafusuaga-Erica               Carpentry                     Samoan

Vasa Vaila’au                                    Carpentry                      Samoan

Caleb Farley                                      Carpentry                      Niuean

Daniel Seko                                       Carpentry                      Samoan

Mack Bauro                                       Carpentry                      Kiribati

Teleekai Teaiolo                               Carpentry                      Tuvalu

Feofaaki (Aki) Tuangalu                 Carpentry                      Tongan

Willie Ropati                                     Adv Automotive            Samoan

Simon Puia-Betham                        Adv Automotive            Samoan/Cook Is

Manuela Emile                                 Electrical                         Cook Islands

Tofu (Pati) Tuugamusu                   Electrical                        Samoan

Oliver Fidow                                      Electrical                        Samoan

Paulo Agafili                                      Electrical                        Samoan

Sione Nuku                                        Electrical                        Tongan

Pasia Filo                                            Plumbing                        Samoan

Vincent Vaovasa                               Plumbing                        Samoan

Bradley Moafanua                            Plumbing                        Samoan

Jermal Taliauli                                  Plumbing                        Samoan

Opeti Miller                                        Electrical                        Tongan/Maori

Meseka Lupo                                      Electrical                        Samoan

Talalelei (Junior) Etuale                  Carpentry                      Samoan

 

 

NZ Prime Minister John Key and parliamentarians returned from their Pacific mission to Samoa, Tonga and Niue on Thursday. It was a goodwill mission, there were monetary grants given to help develop a number of areas in the three countries.

It was also political campaigning for the Pacific vote. A vote that will influence the outcome of the 20 September general election.

But what is the John Key-led government’s record for Pacific countries and Pacific nationals living in New Zealand?

Putting everything aside, two questions cover the type of treatment Pasifika has received from six years of this National government:

Question 1: What is its commitment to reducing the impacts of Climate change on vulnerable Pacific nations like Niue, Samoa and Tonga? Answer: Poor

Question 2: The quality of lives and needs of Pacific islanders living in New Zealand, did they get a fair go under this government? Have they improved?

The status from statistics and other anecdotal evidence show Pacific islanders are mired in the lower socioeconomic levels of society. Their unemployment statistics are the worst, their youths not in employment, education, training are poor, and their home ownership at only 18.5 per cent the worst for a population group.

But those are broad evidence, the real answer lie with the voice from its communities.

And that is what this article provides readers and the New Zealand public. Details of the reality of life for Pacific islanders in New Zealand as they live it day to day, written by one of their own leaders.  That is the reality in place that John Key and parliamentarians left behind and are now returning to (Click link to read ‘Part I of John Key’s journey‘).

Below is the compilation of a series of 29 columns written by Reverend Dr Featuna’i Liua’ana from 7 July 2012 to 9 April 2013. The series called “Ears on the Wall” covers the impacts of politics, policies and decisions made at the Beehive on the lives of Pacific people at the grassroots level during that period. Ears as Pacific people’s backs are against the wall of hardship, lack of housing, jobless and marginalized further by employment legislation and social reformation.

It is about the rawness of life at the grassroots level. It picks up issues and reveals the depth of their impacts to a trusted source that surveys and their sampling methods can only guess and postulate about from the surface. It also takes away a journalist’s bias that could influence reports on the issues and their impacts.

“They are my reflections and concern about issues that seem to be injecting venomous outrage within our Pacific Island communities as they happen,” Rev Liua’ana told Pacific Guardians and with it the authority to publish the series online.

The first article sets the tone of the writings. Its starting point is at the three years and seven months mark since the John Key government came into power. Its title ‘Its colder than normal for many people’ is a predictionof “a long-range economic winter for low income Kiwis under National.”

It starts at a time “where all of the changes implemented by the National government have made wealth more central and important in government thinking than the low income earners and poor people of New Zealand; the changes, whether intentional or not, have made many Pacific Islanders feel singled out to be forever condemned to live in poverty.”

His observations are written in what he terms “Speaking Palagi English” so that any person that speaks English as their first language “will understand how we Pacific islanders feel about what is happening to us, why it’s happening, and why we look at life in the way that we do.”

Dr Liua’ana is an historian gaining his doctorate from Australia’s National University and one of the Pacific region’s authority on the history of the church in the Pacific. In his capacity as Reverend for Sandringham EFKS, he receives raw views and comments from a wide spectrum of age groups and social issues. He sits on many boards and gets requests for advice on academic and social issues not only from his congregation and national networks but also from abroad.

The articles and topics covered are listed below. It is in these writings that the reader will find the truthful answer to Question 2: The quality of lives and needs of Pacific islanders living in New Zealand, did they get a fair go, have they improved?

1.  It’s colder than normal for many people (7 Jul 2012)

• Government’s stance on asset sales, the insecurity of Pacific children’s future education, overhauled welfare system, changes to Immigration services, latest failed transformation by HNZ to use an 0800 line and more is making life harder for the poor. Instead, the rich will be “feeling cosy with all the changes because selling assets means shares and profits, but for the low income and poor families in New Zealand it means paying higher power bills so the rich can enjoy the profits from their shares.”
• All of these changes by government, “have made wealth more central and important in government thinking than the low income earners and poor people of New Zealand; the changes, whether intentional or not, have made many Pacific Islanders feel singled out to be forever condemned to live in poverty.”
• It is important for Pacific communities to truly be one voice, heard in solidarity with the voices of other communities; that’s the kind of power that shakes foundations.

2.  Public shared water soon to be private (19 Jul 2012)

• Maori water rights and ownership and role of the crown
• Asset sale: Mighty River Power

3. Dark nights rising (27 Jul 2012)

• Pacific psychology on shooting rampage at Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
• Coroners report on Kahui twins
• Arm NZ police?
• What is the definition of violence today?
• Role of technology in today’s society
• Advise to parents about technology and how to manage it

4.  El Nino predicted: Omen for Political Wisdom (2 Aug 2012)

• John Key’s tunnel vision on Mighty River sale
• The question of bonus shares
• View on individual rights and the Same Sex marriage bill
• Immigration scams – why? Is it gullibility plus government policies?

5. Louisa backs Pasifika against the Wall  (9 Aug 2012)

• Take on Louisa Wall’s summation of Pacific Islanders’ psyche
• Pacific feelings about Same Sex marriage bill
• If bill passes, what happens to Labour?

6. The agony and the ecstasy  (17 Aug 2012)

• Pacific-church leaders seminar on same sex bill. The unsaid agenda items behind the meeting.
• The rotting image of the Labour Party
• London Olympians and drug cheat that spolied Valerie’s moment.

7. Friendship to Fiendship  (24 Aug 2012)

• NZ’s pretense at Samoa’s 50^th independence celebrations
• What ‘Treaty of Friendship’ is PM John Key talking about?
• Robert Muldoon and the Treaty of Fiendship
• Dawn raids and Privy Council case of Falema’i Lesa

8. Major eruptions in the Auckland horizon  (31 Aug 2012)

• Child Commissioner’s report: Solutions to Child Poverty in New Zealand
• Egos of John Key and Paula Bennett on child poverty
• A solution and churches role to end 30 years of NZ failing its children
• Same sex bill passes first reading: “who cares what Pacific islanders think”?
• Aucklanders slapped with 41.4% rise in wastewater cost, on top of a 3% rise in rates.
• Predicting Auckland’s active volcanoes

9. United we stand  (6 Sep 2012)

• Aesop’s story ‘The lion and four oxen’
• “Jesus figure return after 12 years”
• What happens if Pacific ministers refuse to marry same-sex couples?
• Issues pulling people apart: Housing shortage, HousingNZ rent hikes, ACC blunders, youth suicides, child poverty
• Suffering infallibility syndrome: Paula Bennett, Judith Collins, Bill English
• Implications of John Key’s rejection of hui invitation from Maori King

10. A Fish a day … or fish for a lifetime  (13 Sep 2012)

• Govt rejects all proposals to reduce child poverty
• Govt’s economic policies: impacts on the poor; and the rich
• Govt gave $500,000 to fund sport for private schools
• Labour and Green make move to reduce child poverty
• Rev Liua’ana’s personal view on possible solutions: Lifestyle Transformation
• Pacific islanders and ‘Dependency Syndrome’, drugs, gambling…

11. Pan and his fairies  (20 Sep 2012)

• Govt’s welfare, education and justice policies translated to poor families’ language
• What’s behind the proposed $300 million prison to be built at Wiri?
• Key and Bennett write to 175 employers on behalf of 300 LVS graduates in Wellington. What about the other 160,000 unemployed?
• Invest Samoa conference

12. G.U.T.S (genuine urgency to succeed)  (27 Sep  2012)

• Tony Ryall snub miners petition to save 400-plus jobs
• Why govt didn’t bail out Solid Energy but it did AMI?
• Steven Joyce pester Labour and Greens to support Open-cast mine
• Peseta’s 7,000 people off benefit into jobs – the maths don’t add up
• Low income jobs being lost at Nuplex, Onehunga, Kiwi Rail, Kawerau Pulp and Paper, Tiwai Pt Aluminium, Newmont Waihi Gold, ANZ phasing out National Bank
• Is the govt concerned about unemployment?
• Pacific Trades Training Scheme why no follow-up?

13. The Buck has to stop Somewhere  (5 Oct 2012)

• Dotcom illegal spying affair
• Judith Collins move to close courtrooms in Fielding, Upper Hutt, Warkworth and Whataroa at a cost of over 100 jobs
• Are there any MP that care enough about NZ people?
• Effect of slavery and Key govt’s ‘litany of cock-ups’
• What these headlines mean: ‘Precious little sense on planet Paula’, ‘No work, no toilets, on planet Key’, ‘The secret diary of…planet Key’, and ‘Key the ostrich has head firmly buried in sand’

14. National giveth and National taketh (12 Oct 2012)

• Youth starting out wage and implications for Pasifika

15. Float like a butterfly Sting like a bee (19 Oct 2012)

• Govt’s “take from the poor give to the rich” explained
• How a $432 gross a week youth pay packet is spent
• ACC ex-boss $760,000 golden handshake, Foreign Affairs CEO $40,000 pay rise.
• 330 ACC workers now earn over $100,000 a year. Those paid $500,000 a year increased by four to ten. 29 workers are paid between $200,000 and $400,000, top salaries between $670,000 and $760,000 a year.
• 6,700 ACC clients privacy information breached, no mention of compensation
• Dotcom affair on parliamentary TV-best TV of the year

16. Lies behind the masks (26 Oct 2012)

• Marriage Bill a stepping stone or a front for more sinister changes in the future to the whole institution of marriage?
• What’s the future for church ministers rejecting same-sex marriage?
• How the bill will affect Pacific communities and families
• Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga comments that “on average 7,000 people go off welfare and in to work every month”
• Overseas banks announce $914 million profit in the three months up to June 2012.
• 871 people on HNZ priority ‘A’ listing; yet people are being evicted to build news homes to sell to wealthy property speculators

17. Sacrifice the Poor to Save the Rich  (2 Nov 2012)

• How Key’s government initiated a class struggle between the poor and the rich, and widened the gap between the poor and the rich.
• The formula for keeping the poor, poor explained. Rise in unemployment, choke manufacturing, hospitality sectors; reduce welfare assistance, reduce housing availability, reduce education options in high risk communities, increase pay packet to the rich, invest in foreign owned banks, …
• Internal Affairs minister, Chris Tremain on cheaper passports

18. People: The real wealth of nation  (9 Nov 2012)

• Obama won in all the ways that matter – young voters, ethnic voters, women voters [and] urban centres.
• Key refuses to accept a 13,000 rise in unemployment, taking the unemployment figures to almost 300,000
• Unemployment for Pasifika 15.5% explained
• Calling on John Key to: embrace “an economy that grows from the middle class out, from the bottom up.”

19. Epitome of the four monkeys… (16 Nov 2012)

• Why are John Key’s ministers great imitators of foreign policies: British prison model; Charter Schools, Partnership Schools, same-sex marriages, social welfare, employment initiative schemes
• Evil within the Labour Party ranks – Shearer’s leadership questioned
• John Key’s comment David Beckham “ thick as bat s***”, and reference to the ‘gay red top’
• Meaning of the four maxims ‘see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil, and do no evil.’

20. Keep friends close, enemies closer (23 Nov 2012)

• Pacific view of David Cunliffe’s leadership challenge
• Why John Key sees David Shearer as the more dangerous opponent
• Labour’s affordable housing policy

21. Debt, slaver of the free  (30 Nov 2012)

• 885 Pacific islanders owe $24million to finance companies and car dealers
• HowPacific churches can help
• Where changes to Pacific culture can make a positive difference

22. ‘Tis the season to be jolly  (7 Dec 2012)

• The reason behind Paula Bennett’s ‘Zip it Sweetie’ comment
• Why is WINZ giving beneficiaries and unemployed cash grants to buy one-way airline tickets to cross the Tasman?
• The Brendon Horan vs NZ First conflict and implications for ‘crossing the waka’ politics
• John Key’s silence over: TPPA, Kim Dotcom and John Banks donation, GCSB spying, secret of a US spy visit, and covering up his MPs misdemeanors and confidentiality mishaps.
• Added to the list are the lacklustre performances by many Pacific MPs.
• Black day for NZ sports: All Blacks trounced by England, the Black Ferns the same humiliation; the Sevens team beaten by Many Samoa, Black Caps humiliating captaincy issues, and Black Sticks…

23. Live by the Sword die by the Sword  (20 Dec 2012)

• Implications of ‘individual rights’ in rampage shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, that killed twenty children and their teachers
• The Govt’s zero budget
• The last two years of govt cuts: benefits, jobs, housing, community policing, funds for Pacific language education, schools numbers, education curriculums, …
• Pay increase for all MPs, and increase in excise duty for petrol and road charges for all New Zealanders
• Growth of Pacific church and its importance to govt agencies explained
• EFKS church celebrates 50 years in NZ

24. A New Year and more aftershocks  (26 Feb 2013)

• Christchurch earthquake and govt’s education reshuffle adds to tragedy
• Dear Anne Tolley, if 90% of prisoners are illiterate, isnt that a failure of the state education system?
• What happens if instead of paying $90,000 to upkeep individual prisoners, that money is spent on education?
• Ross Taylor’s triumphant return to test cricket

25. And we’ll roll the old chariot along  (6 Mar 2013)

• John Key the chameleon
• Govt wins ‘Asset sales’ court case – Mighty River on selling block
• Same-sex bill pass second reading – Labour and National’s ‘you scratch my back I’ll scratch yours’
• Are Labour MPs joy-riding behind National’s chariot?
• Pacific attitude of saying one thing and doing another comes from frustration and being on the losing side. This must change or it legitimizes the negative things done to them

26. Banks, never been my cup of tea  (13 Mar 2013)

• Class-action lawsuit against New Zealand banks charging fees
• Muti from Otahuhu’s version on why Banks charge fees
• Problem Gambling Foundation on why SkyCity self regulation is not a good idea
• Why Samoans are so vulnerable to pokies and gambling

27 There’s only 3 kinds of Johns in the world  (19 Mar 2013)

• Govt’s policies lack generosity
• Why some Pacific islanders are saying ‘if you can’t beat them [National govt] join them’
• Truth behind Solid energy’s debt and impacts on families that lost jobs

28. Easter – still stumbling a few blocks  (2 Apr 2013)

• Debate over Easter and attack on Christians re: Same-sex marriage bill
• The answer to why religious people oppose the Marriage bill
• Rodney Hide and Matt McCarten: “either put up with Christianity, take up Christianity, or just shut up about Christianity.”

29. Reputation is something character is everything  (9 Apr 2013)

• John Key in the middle of North Korean – South Korean political conflict
• John Key’s brain fades
• How MPs are losing the characteristics that got them voted in
• Why NZ’s ‘100% pure’ image is far from the moral truth
• Is ‘Individual rights’ worth it?

John Key needs to front up to Pacific leaders and communities and explain why his Government is not taking climate change seriously, the Green Party said today.

“Climate change is the biggest risk facing the Pacific. The region is already being disproportionately affected, yet John Key’s head remains stuck in the sand,” said Green Party Co-leader Metiria Tūrei from Samoa, where the Prime Minister is today visiting sites impacted by a cyclone and tsunami.

“Although islanders have done little to contribute to climate change, they are on the frontline of its effects.

“In some parts of the region, climate change is literally destroying people’s homes, and most islands are experiencing impacts on infrastructure, water supply, coastal and forest ecosystems, fisheries, agriculture and human health.

“Meanwhile, back home in New Zealand, John Key has refused to take any meaningful action on climate change.

“Under National’s policies, New Zealand’s net emissions are set to increase by 50 percent in the next 10 years and we are the fifth highest per capita emitters in the developed world.

“What kind of message is this sending our Pacific neighbours, and Pacific Islanders in New Zealand concerned for family and friends back home.

“New Zealand should be doing everything we can to reduce the impacts of climate change for our Pacific whānau. National is making their situation worse.

“John Key often says New Zealand is so small that what we do on climate change does not matter. He should ask Pacific Islanders whether what we do matters. I think he’ll find what we do is very important to them and they are seeking leadership from us on this.”

Metiria Tūrei will meet with Pacific climate activists in Tonga tomorrow, to discuss what action they’d like to see from New Zealand (details below).

The Green Party has just launched a Climate Protection Plan, which would achieve carbon neutrality for New Zealand by 2050, set up an independent Climate Commission and put a price on carbon, the revenue from which will all go back to households and businesses in the form of tax cuts.

“The Green Party is the only political party offering real action on climate change – action that will reduce New Zealand’s emissions, leave households better off and help protect the future of our Pacific neighbours,” said Mrs Tūrei.

Source: NZ Green Party

This is Part II of a candid interview with Premier Toke Talagi. Part I: Niue Premier Talagi talks solutions, depopulation, religion, … was published in Niue Star edition 251.

In October this year, Niue will celebrate forty years of self-rule in free association with New Zealand. A milestone that current New Zealand Prime Minister, Mr John Key will probably attend if his National Party wins a third term at the 20 September general election.

If not, Labour leader Mr David Cunliffe told the Niue Star earlier this year, he will look forward to his first-time visit to Niue as New Zealand’s prime minister. That would be interesting especially with Mr Dotcom in tow if his Internet Party is part of the coalition.

But for Premier Toke Talagi, in his third term as leader, he would be looking at tidying up some loose ends as he moves to establish a self-sustaining Niue economy that is not too reliant on overseas aid.

There are two ‘loose ends’ if tied up, would have significant and positive impacts on Niue’s economic aspirations.

One is the need to clarify the murkiness surrounding the special constitutional relationship between Niue and New Zealand. Answering questions such as the true meaning of the ‘Realm of New Zealand’, and what value does New Zealand citizenship have for a Niuean national.

“I’ve always said that we [Niue and New Zealand] need to sit down, discuss and determine where we are with the ‘realm’ and what it means,” Premier Talagi told Niue Star.

“We also need to look at what it means to have New Zealand citizenship and so on. We need to define those key topics better than what we have at the present moment.

“In terms of the realm, it is very clear, and a lot of people don’t appreciate the fact, that New Zealand can say to Niue, ‘you can’t do that’, we ask why not? and they can say ‘because you’re part of the realm’.

“If that is the case, then we ask, okay but by the way, what else can’t we do or what can we do? At the moment, New Zealand can’t answer that.

“But for me, I’m happy to sit down with New Zealand and work together to clearly define the priorities that we need to work on to ensure that we continue to strengthen our bond.”

The other loose end that will contribute to a self sustaining economy is how to duplicate the successful business model Niue government and New Zealand have been using to grow tourism through the Matavai Resort Trust.

The opportunity is to transplant that model onto a local supplier of a product needed by Matavai. A product that can supply the need of the country; as well as having the potential for export.

A Niue Star investigation has uncovered such a local product. It comes with a bonus as its business structure is compatible with the Matavai Trust model.

The product is locally grown root-based vegetables. The largest of the two suppliers is Niue Fresh located at Avatele with the capacity to supply Matavai and the entire island. And with help, can expand to an export commodity.

A joint venture by local entrepreneur James Takelesi and former Wellington Mayor Mark Blumsky, the partners are confident about supplying all of Niue’s fresh vegetable needs in totality.

“We have around 5,000 lettuces growing right now, and there’s hundreds of tomatoes. We can guarantee that with what we have, we can supply 100 per cent of Niue’s vegetable needs,” said Mr Blumsky.

“We would never have to import a root-based vegetable because it grows here brilliantly when the conditions are right.”

In that scenario, New Zealand doesn’t lose out as all the raw materials and supplies are imported from New Zealand.

The other benefit noticed by Mr Blumsky and Takelesi is by having a constant and ready supply of fresh vegetable on island, “we are changing the dietary habit on Niue as a result quite significantly. People are now able to eat their taro and meat with lettuces, tomatoes, cucumber and bok choy. In terms of health, we are making that difference to some of the health programs run by international agencies, although we are not formally recognized as one of the agents of positive change.”

But there is one huge barrier to fully supplying the local market. It is the lack of a cyclone proof cover for the hydroponic farm which spreads out over an acre of land and growing.

“That is the only thing missing from our operation. If we have that, we can not only supply our local market, but we can seriously look at the potential for export because the vegetables grown here is just to die for – it’s of the highest quality,” said Mr Blumsky.

A cover is estimated at $NZ200,000. “We have invested all of our savings into establishing the operation and expansion so we just don’t have that kind of capital to invest in a cover,” said Mr Takelesi.

Both partners have hit brick walls talking to donors and the chamber of commerce about the cover. They have yet to hear back from government.

But they are open to take on board the Trust model used by the Matavai Resort Trust.

“I would have a very good discussion with a donor and say, look any profit we make we would set up a trust to take surplus or profits and reinvest them in economic development or projects that would make a difference for the people of Niue,” Mr Blumsky told Niue Star.

Will the government of Niue look at supporting the Trust option and funding request by Niue Fresh? Premier Talagi answered the Niue Star query by saying, “The Matavai Resort is a private sector project and is based on private sector principles. We needed a flagship, we needed something to base our air services on, that we can rely on, something that’s there all along to say that is ours. That is why Matavai is so important and why we have invested a lot of money into it.”

He added, “Can we emulate that in the private sector? Yes of course we can. It’s a model that a lot of private sector companies use, large scale or small scale it doesn’t really matter.”

And if the New Zealand High Commission is asked by the government of Niue to assist Niue Fresh what will be the position taken by the High Commissioner?

“If the government of Niue considers that as an option, I don’t know where it would fit into the scheme of things, but certainly we will listen to anything that the government will want to bring to us,” High Commissioner Ross Ardern told Niue Star.

“The point that I want to make is that Niue has the lead on these things. We are here to give what assistance we can. But certainly Niue has the lead on that – that’s also my point of view as the High Commissioner here.”

Premier Talagi said his objective is for Niue to be economically and financially sustainable over the long term.

“I want Niue to be able to finance our own economy without having to depend on others, but that is in the future.”

Economic independence for Niue revolves around one key issue: stabilizing and growing its population currently estimated at 1,600. Only by solving the depopulation challenge will the economic pillars of tourism and fisheries be able to drive and sustain a viable economy.

“Keeping and growing our population is our major focus,” Premier Talagi told Niue Star. “There’s been too much talk about solving the problem and frankly I’m through with all the talk. My focus is to develop projects and programs that will retain people here. What I’m saying is there are things we’re doing to make people desire to stay here on Niue rather than go abroad.”

Some of the initiatives include “increasing salaries, increasing pensions, making sure we have internet, roading, making sure we have all the infrastructure that we do. And being small does have its advantages as we can do all these things easily compared to Samoa and Tonga for example.”

And that is where New Zealand’s financial assistance and strategic view beyond its three-year parliamentary cycle will help Niue immensely.

“At this moment we are developing the economy so its stronger, and build the revenues emanating from that so we gradually reduce our dependence on assistance from other countries including and in particular, New Zealand.”

What the Premier is hoping for is that New Zealand is also committed to the same goal.

“What we are negotiating with New Zealand is the fact they cannot assume that every year from now, things are going to happen so they can reduce aid.

“As I have said to New Zealand foreign affairs minister, Murray McCully, these are not things that you can solve overnight. Our people have been drifting to New Zealand for the past 40 years, so what do you expect, that we’re going to solve it in a year? No way, we have to look at this in the long-term, that in ten years time we will have a population of 2,000 to 3,000.

“There is no expectation on my part that we’re going to perform miracles unless of course New Zealand decides to bring in people.”

He said that what New Zealand should do is to continue to provide assistance to Niue until the country is in a position to say “yes we can now do this on our own”. And then perhaps look at putting some of that money towards the Trust Fund.

“What I want to avoid is doing all this work now only for our future generations to return to this very same position because we didn’t maximize this opportunity and do it properly.”

High Commissioner Ross Ardern reaffirmed New Zealand’s commitment to Niue is based on “a constitutional program where we have a responsibility to fellow New Zealand citizens who live three-and-a-half hours away, from New Zealand.

“We want this environment, this culture to be preserved and we have a part in that. And our part is outlined to us in Black and White, and we need to fulfill those obligations.”

As High Commissioner to Niue, “I would love to see Niue able to stabilize its population and in fact grow it. That would be quite an achievement. There are so many attractive things for Niueans to return to. And that is the key for us, I think is to be able to get Niueans to return home and be able to participate in the growth of the economy here.

“If we can get some of that work done, we’ll be well on the way to success. At the same time, apart from the population issue, I would like to see tourism growing and developing, be sustainable, and not make a negative impact on the island, and for people to continue in good health, good education, living in a healthy and wealthy environment.”

There is the potential that adding Niue Fresh to the economic equation will provide health, wealth and environmental benefits to Niue’s aspirations of a self-sustaining sovereign nation.

Source: Niue Star

 

If Winston Peters and his New Zealand First party hold the balance of power in the 20 September election, it would also mean changes for Niue.

Mr Peters told the Niue Star exclusively, that New Zealand’s role in Niue’s economic development will be refocused and better supported.

“Premier Toke Talagi’s problem over in Niue is that Foreign Affairs and Treasury in New Zealand just don’t admit to the most fundamental thing – that to start a business in Niue you have to, at least seed fund them for five years to get over the red hump of establishment fees,” he said.

“You just can’t expect them to turn it around in two years, it’s impossible and I understand that.”

Mr Peters also believes New Zealand should do more than just provide aid assistance. He wants New Zealand to be involved and hands-on in Niue’s economic development projects.

“But I would not go to the islands and try to, how should I put it, artificially put in social business packages into foreign affairs or aid plans when for many parts in the islands there is no, what I would call competition for business interests.”

To illustrate New Zealand’s involvement, Mr Peters cited two cases. One involving the failed fish processing plant and the other, the noni juice enterprise. These two businesses, he said, would probably still be operating if New Zealand was directly involved.

“The fishing project would have taken off but it needed help. Why? Because to make money you have to establish markets, establish lines of regular supply, and then all of a sudden you go from red to black overnight if you can hang-on in there long enough. You need help to get there. It’s impossible to do it by yourself.”

He also believes his time as former Minister for Foreign Affairs in Helen Clarke’s government has given insights that will allow him to go straight into the heavy lifting.

“As Foreign Affairs Minister in charge of aid, I came to realize the leg rope or the choke hold that’s on the program you should be working on.

“If I get the chance again [to be Foreign Affairs minister], at least this time I’ll hit the ground running. I wont be mucking around a whole lot of people who don’t know which way is up or how the project works. You have got to make a definitive principal statement that these plans are on the cards.”

Niue should be a thriving paradise and can be said Mr Peters.

“But in the struggle for influence and being a good neighbor in the Pacific there are a lot of interlopers who don’t have the Pacific’s interest in mind.

“We are living in a resource-starved world, and the interlopers want their hands on the resources. With NZFirst, the different context is this; we see Niue’s resource, if they can add value to it, that is a key component to their economic development.

“Niue’s got everything but decent infrastructure to make it go in the modern context.”

Source: Niue Star

 

What track record does Mr Key’s government have on Pacific priorities, and country-specific issues. And secondly, how have Mr Key’s government policies treated Pacific islanders living in Aotearoa New Zealand?

Today in Samoa, Prime Minister John Key joins celebrations for the country’s 52^nd year since it became independent from New Zealand rule.

He’s there as part of a 5-day Pacific journey that includes the Kingdom of Tonga and Niue island. It retraces the same journey he took in July 2009, with the exception of the Cook Islands.

Heading the 40-strong party that include MPs from other political parties, the mission is branded a goodwill visit where Mr Key is expected to make a range of development and tourism announcements “reflective of the sort of aid and work we do in the Pacific”.

He will also be seeking support for New Zealand’s bid to get a seat on the United Nations Security Council when five seats come up for grab later this year.

But the major reason for Mr Key in this journey is not a secret. New Zealand will hold its general election on 20 September this year and the Pacific vote is shaping up as potentially crucial to the final outcome.

He will be suggesting either subtly, blatantly or through promises, to leaders of these countries for a good word to their populations in New Zealand about National.

It’s an extension of what’s happening back in New Zealand where all the major parties and politicians of different colours have been seen at Samoan churches and Pacific community events since the beginning of this year.

The 2013 Census records Samoans as the most numerous of New Zealand’s Pacific population making up 50 per cent or 144,438 people. Tonga is ranked third with 60,000 and Niue fourth with 24,000.

But putting campaigning and coinage aside, the question is, what track record does Mr Key’s government have on Pacific priorities, and country-specific issues.

And secondly, how have Mr Key’s government policies treated Pacific islanders living in Aotearoa New Zealand?

The answer to the first question is simple.

The number one priority issue for Samoa, Tonga, Niue, and the Pacific islands region is climate change. It has been for decades and dates right back to the original UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) held in Rio de Janeiro, in June 1972.

From that time, Samoa and Tuilaepa’s international influence and record as a voice on climate change negotiations secured the 2014 UN Small Islands Developing States (SIDS) conference taking place in Samoa in September. It’s historic, the first time such a conference has taken place in the Pacific region.

It is testament to the cries of the Pacific countries and the priority, as a collective, accord climate change as the one single threat that can wipe their societies, cultures, heritage – their existence from the face of the earth.

In light of that history, real cases of Pacific climate refugees seeking ‘asylum’ in New Zealand, the need for funding so each Pacific nation can prepare and build infrastructure to adapt to the impacts of climate change, all of these have been part of impassioned pleas by Pacific leaders to big polluting countries to commit cutting their polluting.

Samoa’s PM Tuilaepa with Niue’s Premier Toke Talagi have been at the forefront of those pleas together with Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and others.

It is here, where a united call to action that Pacific nations need Australia and New Zealand’s support the most.

But under John Key’s government – New Zealand’s efforts have been poor. It has taken a self-interest position over that of the region.

It is a well-known truth that New Zealand represents a small percentage of overall global emissions. Therefore, as a small developed country, New Zealand is reliant on major global emitters to reduce their emissions to avoid serious consequences of human caused climate change on the Pacific region especially small island states. But because of the way it has behaved, New Zealand currently has little credibility in asking large emitting countries to make cuts because it is not pulling its own weight domestically.

Here are some facts.

New Zealand represents a small percentage of overall global emissions but it is one of the worst greenhouse gas polluters per capita in the world.

Dairy farming, deforestation, mining and transport are the main sources of New Zealand’s emissions, which have risen by 88.06% since 1990, second only to Turkey.

In 2012 New Zealand pulled out of the Kyoto Protocol, arguing it was no longer effective and should be scrapped.

The 2008 Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) designed to reduce New Zealand companies’ carbon emissions, has now, under National, become a source of profit for big emitters.

How it works is that under the ETS, companies have to buy a carbon unit (around $5) to cover each tonne of pollution they emit.

But to take the sting out of the scheme, the Government gives heavier polluters up to 90 per cent of their units free of charge. The Greens’ climate change spokesman Kennedy Graham told media many companies are using these free credits to rort the system.

These companies were selling their free units at market price ($5) and then buying cheap foreign carbon credits (between 10c and 40c) to cover their climate change obligations.

Dr Graham said some companies were believed to be making huge profits, while doing nothing to reduce emissions.

At the same time, National removed the requirement for farmers – who produce roughly half of New Zealand’s emissions – to pay for their pollution.

And then in August 2013 New Zealand’s emissions reduction target for 2020 was announced as a 5 per cent reduction on 1990 levels — a significant step back from its previous conditional commitment to make cuts in the 10 to 20 percent range.

On 8 August, 2013, Minister for Climate Change, Mr Tim Groser was asked the question in parliament by the Green Party’s Dr Kennedy Graham: “When does he expect New Zealand’s emissions to peak, and when can we expect the emissions of this big boy to return to their 1990 levels?”

Mr Groser answered: “Only when the Prime Minister has granted me the magical powers that I have been seeking for some time.”

Later Mr Groser said: “This Government has got a variety of objectives, and one of them is to try to improve our economy and increase jobs, decrease imports, and generally improve the situation for all working families. We will do what we do in climate change through a balanced suite of climate change policies. We will not sacrifice everything to the altar of climate change.”

Meantime the Green Party announced their Climate Protection Plan yesterday.

Ms Metiria Turei, co-leader of the Green Party is on the Pacific journey with Mr Key. At the heart of their plan is this: “Climate change is the most challenging issue of our time. How we respond to it will define the kind of future our children inherit.”

It is made up of a suite of major election policies aimed to transition New Zealand to carbon neutrality by 2050, including a charge on carbon that will be returned to all households as a Climate Tax Cut on the first $2000 of income, leaving Kiwi families better off.

Pacific Guardians had already previewed that Green policies speak Pacific language.

If there is a change of government on 20 September, it is likely to be a Green-Labour coalition. And what is Labour’s stance on climate change?

In September 2013, Labour announced, “A Labour Government will take climate change seriously and ensure that New Zealand does its fair share with a comprehensive climate change response including committing to the Kyoto framework and ensuring an effective price on carbon.”

Apart from the All Blacks to play a test against Manu Samoa at Apia Park, the other main topic Mr Key would likely highlight is immigration policies.

However, no matter the current debate, the fact remains that changes made by the National government has made it more difficult for Pacific islanders to enter New Zealand. Most of its changes were aligned to benefit people from Asia and Europe. People with money were placed ahead of the queue compared to people in situations dominant in the Pacific islands. And recent preferential treatments of rich Chinese national by Immigration Minister making house calls. While Assoc. Minister Nikki Kaye declined to intervene on Fijian national, Sanil Kumar who sadly passed away due to an infection, after she had intervened on similar cases for South African Chef, Albert Buitenhuis, and British immigrant Martyn Payne, tell a different story.

The Samoa Immigration Quota scheme has never been filled due to the near impossibility of gaining a permanent work permit for a successful applicant. Changes of this nature that would assist Samoans and Tongans would be more relevant.

The economic and social benefit of such changes will benefit both countries as only around 12 per cent of Samoa’s total population is engaged in formal paid employment.  Two-thirds of its potential labour force is available for the RSE scheme or the ballot where educational opportunities such as provided by the Pasifika Trades Training will help New Zealand with its labour shortage, and Samoa’s economy through remittances.

When the journey touches down on Niue the issues are also clear-cut.

It’s about how New Zealand can assist Niue resolve the challenge of depopulation; build a self-sustaining economy; and clarify the issues surrounding the value of New Zealand citizenship for Niue nationals, and what does the ‘Realm of New Zealand’ truly means.

The second question, ‘How have Mr Key’s government policies treated Pacific islanders living in Aotearoa New Zealand?’ will be published in Part II: There and back again.