OPINION

The Government’s announcement today of a $10million five-year investment to grow Asian languages is a slap on the face of Pacific communities who have implored the government to intervene in the preservation of their languages, to no avail.

It cuts deeper as statistics from Census 2013 confirm the trend to extinction is real as reported by University of Auckland researcher John MaCaffrey. At the same time, Pacific Guardians sources say a sinister plot has been in play to kill off Pacific languages and rein in the Pacific population to stay in the low strata of society. They point to an alleged link with the government’s immigration policy that favours Asia while building bigger barriers for Pacific islanders to migrate here.

There is merit to their assertions. Ever since the National government came into power six years ago, they successfully managed to put a stop to the publishing of key Pacific education resources, critical amongst them are the Tupu and Folauga series.

When it happened in 2010, the Pacific community could see a perilous future and in one of their rare public showing of protest, they organized a lobby group and formally marched to government to present the Pacific Languages and Literacy Petition calling for bilingual and bi-literacy schooling.

National’s Pacific MP Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga refused to accept the petition for a ‘party-line’ reason according to some members who marched that day. They say the government had already planned to narrow the ensuing Pacific Language Inquiry’s terms of reference to focus only on the issues of bilingualism at the early childhood level. It would not allow a wider scope to investigate bilingual and bi-literacy education to include the formal education sector.

Because of that approach, the government’s response to the Inquiry due on 18 March 2014, made it easy to activate the ‘no obligation’ option and opt out of intervening. Instead they would be able to fob off the responsibility for language preservation to Pacific communities and families.

To complete the rout, there was a deliberate move during the committee stages of the 21st Century Learning Environments and Digital Literacy,that the production of Pacific digital resources be deleted from the relevant section. A move that none of the Pacific MPs in the opposition were awake to – a big disappointment.

The move was critical to leave Pacific education resources out of the digital movement. It means when the Network4Learning platform is activated, there would be no raw material to teach or develop Pacific languages and programs. Why? If there are no digital resources, then the tools and material for teaching or developing language programs cannot be created hence Pacific languages cannot be included as school options and therefore easily excluded and eventually disappear.

It is therefore no surprise when latest statistics reported by Auckland University confirm Pacific languages heading to extinction.

The key reason why government is investing in Asian languages, with a special focus on Chinese Mandarin, is trade and the potential for a bigger share of the Asian market. It is placing money ahead of its historical ties and special relationship with the Pacific.

In her statement today, Mrs Parata said “We need to provide young New Zealanders with opportunities to learn the languages of countries that we have strong trade relationships with.”

Programmes where primary and secondary schools work together so that pupils can continue to learn languages throughout their school life are the priority she said added. “This might include sharing teachers and resources, or even sharing classes online.” This particular component is the same one that was deliberately removed from the Pacific Language and Literacy Inquiry.

Continued Mrs Parata, “Our long term goal is that all New Zealand students will develop reasonable proficiency in a second language. Not only are there cognitive benefits, but it also helps develop cultural awareness and enables New Zealanders to communicate around the world.”

These statements confirm the contradiction of her government’s position when Pacific languages are included in the picture frame.

On 18 March this year, the National government was required to respond to the Report by the Pasifika Language Inquiry. It was no surprise when their “hands off” response was delivered.

Mrs Parata in a statement confirmed it, “Pacific communities are committed to ensuring the revitalisation and retention of their heritage languages. The Government is proud to support them to achieve that goal.” Support will be delivered through early childhood education and the Pasifika Education Plan.

In essence, the government stance is not to invest in Pacific languages. This is despite experts, academics and teachers pointing out that government intervention and development of Pacific education resources are needed for Pasifika languages to survive and grow.

Ms Catherine Delahunty, the Green’s education spokesperson was disgusted. She told Pacific Guardians in March, “The Government’s lack of response in the report show their refusal to value Pasifika languages and communities. And the refusal to value the proven educational benefits of learning in the mother tongue and/or heritage language.”

She said if the Greens become the government, there will be government interventions.

Ms Delahunty believes that bilingual or multilingual, starting with Te Reo Maori and Pacific languages should be a Government priority and that the entire country would benefit from more support for bilingual education at all levels of the education system.

“If we are in the Government by September 21st we will support the production of digital education resources for Pasifika,” she confirmed to Pacific Guardians.

“And [we will] make sure that the ‘Tupu and Folauga’ series are made available, I understand they still exist.”

But Mrs Parata pointed out in today’s announcement that the government is providing support to Pasifika languages through the Pasifika Education Plan 2013-2017.

The Plan focuses on increasing the number of Pasifika early childhood education language services teaching in a Pasifika language or culture, by 2016.

However, the opposition and Pacific providers were critical in a number of areas to the government approach.

The first according to Labour and the Greens is it is herding Pasifika children into a monocultural/monolingual system.

“It’s a policy which ignores the personal, cultural and educational benefits of Pasifika languages to school children with Pacific heritage with the effect of making those children monolingual in English by the time they leave schools,” Su’a William Sio told Pacific Guardians.

“In other words, National’s treatment of Pasifika languages in education is really a road to nowhere for Pasifika communities.”

Another criticism points to inherent barriers to Pasifika enrolments at ECE level that are still very much part of the system. And the government’s exclusive taxpayer partnership with corporate provider Kidicorp to increase participation was a step in the wrong direction say Pacific providers. Not only is it corporate welfare, but Pacific leaders say it can destroy some of the deep seated cultural bonds and historical connections inherent in Pacific communities. These issues were featured by Pacific Guardians in its March article: Pasifika Community Unhappy with Hekia Parata and Kris Faafoi.

The other major concern is in relation to digital education resources. Irrespective of how many schools subscribe to the Network4Learning network and how fast the broadband connections are; if there are no Pacific education resources, then teachers and language programmes cannot be created.

This year, New Zealand will commemorate special relationships with three countries in the ‘Realm of New Zealand’. It will commemorate 49 years with the Cook Islands; 40 years with Niue and 88 years in administering Tokelau.

What is sad about such close personal ties is the fact these three nations are the ones whose very languages are most at risk of extinction here in Aotearoa because of the current government’s approach.

 

National leader John Key launched his party’s election campaign yesterday at Manukau, the heart of Pasifika’s south Auckland community.

Highlight was the announcement of a housing plan aimed to increase homeownership for low income earners by doubling first home buyer subsidies. A taxpayer funded plan estimated to cost an extra NZ$218 million over four years.

South Auckland was the perfect venue to announce the housing plan as the majority of Pacific islanders living there are the group who need it the most. As detailed by Pacific Guardians feature: Affordable Housing the Pacific Equation the lowest home ownership group in New Zealand, at only 18.5 per cent, are Pacific islanders – the next lowest grouping is Maori with 28.2 per cent.

But the bad news is the majority of Pacific islanders will not be able to access National’s housing plan. Of the 90,000 estimated new homebuyers National says will benefit from its ‘housing plan’, very few Pacific islanders will be counted amongst them. The reasons why is illustrated in the following example of how National’s housing plan could work for a couple living in Auckland.

A couple with a combined income of NZ$100,000 in Auckland who had savings and subsidies of NZ$50,000 for a deposit would have to borrow five times their gross income with a 90% LVR loan to afford a home and land package costing NZ$550,000.

How many Pacific families in Auckland, or anywhere else for that matter, have this type of profile? Not many. And this is why.

Statistics NZ show that 26.9 per cent of Pacific islanders earn $5,000 or less; while a total of 63 per cent or 106,557 of them earn between $5,000 and $30,000. That is 90 per cent of working Pacific islanders earn up to $30,000. It means that a the majority of Pacific couple’s combined income would fall $40,000 of the required $100,000 income in the above example. The income threshold is not a problem for other working Kiwis as the New Zealand average hourly rate is $28.20 which equates to an average annual salary of $58,656 according to first quarter 2014 figures from Statistics NZ.

The other barrier to Pacific homeownership, as the statistics show, is that many of them with jobs are working in casual part-time employment, majority would be on minimum wage. In those jobs, they will face insecurity such as uncertain hours of paid work, a real risk of losing their jobs, or other kinds of insecurity.

On top of that, current changes being made to the Employment Law will give them even less protection and bargaining powers to better their wages, terms or conditions. These law changes would have been passed by now except for the fact John Banks critical vote (Maori Party are against the changes) was lost when he was found guilty by Justice Edwin Wylie in June.

But those changes are only stalled.

The bill will be back in the House if John Key’s national party returns to government after 20 September according to Labour minister, Simon Bridges. In recent media interviews, he said that if re-elected, National would push for the industrial changes in the law as soon as they could.

The changes would be horrendous and disastrous to Pacific islanders.

As the Council of Trade Unions (CTU) point out in its ‘It doesn’t have to be like this’ media statement, New Zealand’s employment law already “lack support for high-value, high wage industries [and] have created low wage, low-value work which is too often insecure.

“Over 600,000 New Zealanders are unemployed or in ‘insecure’ work – jobs that are badly paid, can be terminated at any time or changed at a few hours’ notice, and make it impossible to plan a life outside work.” These conditions are real as pointed out by Su’a William Sio that since 2009, the real median weekly INCOME for all New Zealanders has fallen by $10 a week to $575, but for Pasifika adults nationwide (after adjusting for inflation) it has dropped by $77 a week  to $381.” The  statistics reveal that 50 per cent of all Pasifika adults are trying to live on earnings less than $19,812 per annum.

Added Su’a, “It is much worse for Pasifika people living in Auckland – since 2009 their median weekly income dropped by $88 a week to $379 while the overall weekly INCOMES for Aucklanders is $575 a week.”

Insecure jobs also has another real impact on Pacific islanders aspiring to homeownership – they are cut off from mortgage financing as banks do not lend to applicants with insecure jobs.

However, amongst the estimated 1,500 turn-out at the Telstra Event Centre, the Minister for Pacific Islands Affairs, Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga was more than happy tweeting the launch “an unmitigated success.”

He added, “There was of course the welcome housing announcement which would see subsidies for first home buyers of up to $20,000. We’ve been working hard for New Zealand during some tough times during the past six years.

“We’re now asking New Zealand for another three years to keep the momentum going in the good days ahead.”

John Key at the launch said the plan is simple for low income Kiwis struggling to buy their first home.

“You join Kiwisaver, you save between three and five years and you want to buy a home, under National there’s a very realistic chance that your deposit will be there for you.”

A couple buying a new home who received the maximum KiwiSaver tax credit for five years would receive an extra NZ$10,000 in Government subsidies and be able to withdraw an extra NZ$5,210 from their KiwiSaver accounts for a deposit on first home.

Opposition parties have said National’s plan is only a short-term “band aid” that avoids fixing the real cause of the housing crisis, which is short supply of affordable housing.

“The fundamental problems are lack of supply of housing, planning rules that constrict development, and unrestricted speculation,” said Labour’s David Cunliffe.

“Unmet demand is driving house prices through the roof, and instead of addressing the fundamental problem now, National wants to spend $218 million of taxpayers’ money to fuel demand even more. It will drive prices even higher.”

But even though Cunliffe said Labour will fix the housing crisis by building 100,000 affordable homes for first home buyers, sort out speculators, and free up planning restrictions – they also have not provided a clearer picture on how low-income Kiwis can become homeowners.

Greens co-leader Russel Norman agree that shortage of supply is the problem and points to housing speculation as one of the root causes.

“Under National median house prices in Auckland have gone up by $228,000. The reality is they’re not dealing with the demand signs…the big demand from offshore, demand coming from those buying investment properties.”

He said if the Greens become the government, they will deal to house speculators by introducing a capital gains tax and place restrictions on foreign investors. They will build more affordable houses and state houses to boost supply.

While for low-income Kiwis, “Our Progressive Ownership policy will allow low income families to ‘rent-to-own’ government-built houses at an affordable price. The Green’s policy addresses the real drivers of housing affordability and will deliver for those New Zealanders who have been priced out of the market under National.”

Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga has defended recent criticisms aimed at staff, nepotism and organizational changes at the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs (MPIA).

Responding exclusively to Pacific Guardians the Minister says he is happy with the way the current Ministry restructure is being handled.

He said the changes are “not intended to achieve savings” but to improve “service delivery and policy advice” by putting in place a “new operating model”.

He emphasised, “The vision for organisational change at the Ministry is about achieving better outcomes for Pacific people, communities, and businesses through better policy engagement and outcomes.”

But accusations about CEO Pauline Winters $30,124.88 travel spend over the past 12 months, and controversial staff appointments of Private Secretary Luc Shorter, executive director Kevin Sua Thomsen and regional manager Paul Stowers, made by Winters last year without the roles being advertised, remain unanswered.

Opposition MPs have stepped up their call for Peseta to step in.

The staff appointments are serious say NZ First Pacific spokesperson Le’aufa’amulia Asenati Lole-Taylor.

“Appointment of staff in senior positions without being advertised or going through the recruitment process can be a serious misconduct,” she told Pacific Guardians.

“The Minister ought to be asked if he can provide assurances that his Chief Executive is performing according to the guidelines of the State Services.”

Su’a William Sio, for Labour maintains the current situation at MPIA is a “shambles” and a reflection of Peseta’s lack of “leadership”.

“The Minister needs to front up and explain how his ‘leadership’ has resulted in the unfolding shambles at the ministry,” said Su’a in a statement.

“Pacific families are being hit with high unemployment, low incomes and unaffordable housing. Now the only ministry charged with advocating for better lives for our people is embroiled in internal staffing issues.”

He added, “The bulk of the extra money Mr Lotu-Iiga crowed about the Ministry getting in this year’s Budget appears to have been for redundancies.”

But Peseta is unperturbed and maintains his position, “It is inappropriate for me to comment on expenditure or staffing matters.  These are operational matters and you will need to contact the Ministry directly for comment.

“However, I have sought reassurances from the State Services Commissioner that the Chief Executive’s expenditure is legitimate.”

He also explained that the increase in the 2014/15 budget of $619,000 was “to support organisational change for the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs.

“The organisational change is not intended to achieve savings; rather it is to improve service delivery and policy advice through implementation of a new operating model.  The Ministry is still undergoing organisational change and staff are in the appointment process and it would be inappropriate for me to comment as Minister on staffing matters.”

In the meantime, Ms Winters has refused media interviews instead preferring to communicate through written ministry statements.

In relation to travel expenditure, Ms Winters said, “My travel spending is appropriate and is entirely related to the core business of the ministry. My travel programme is planned against the ministry’s work programme to assist with keeping the costs as low as possible.”

She added the ministry was going through a “change process” and that a “process of business as usual and consultation” required regular travel between Auckland, where the majority of Pacific Islanders are based, and Wellington.

But the Taxpayers’ Union has called for Ms Winters to front up “or resign”.

Executive Officer, Mr Jordan Williams told media, “Taxpayers fork out $270,000 per year for this Chief Executive and she is refusing to take calls from the media. The Taxpayers’ Union call on Ms Winter to front up, or resign.”

Last week, Mr Williams went with Taxpayers’ Union mascot Porky to see Ms Winters at the MPIA offices.

“For Ms Winter’s gallant efforts to rip off New Zealand taxpayers with publicly funded weekend trips to the exotic capital of the South Pacific known as Auckland, Porky and I visited the Ministry’s offices to present her with the first of our ‘Troughing Awards’.

“Ms Winters was in the office but refused to front-up or speak to media.

“Despite Ms Winter’s expenses being more than $30,000 she chose to hide in her office and send a spin doctor to accept the award on her behalf.

“Ms Winter’s refusal to justify her expense bill is the epitome of arrogance. She should front up, justify her extravagance on the taxpayer purse, or resign.”

PAULINE WINTER SPEND

Spending between July 2013 and July 2014:

Taxis – $5987.24 (around 80 of which were listed as AIRPORT TRANSFERS)

AIRFARES – $17,059.53 (between Auckland and Wellington)

Car rental – $3103.82 (on 10 occasions, over six months, she used a HIRE CAR in Auckland over weekends. The bill came to $2273)

Total travel expenses: $30,124.88.

 

 

 

Three weekends ago in Auckland, Ms Sarai Tepou felt the treatment she got from Newmarket Olympic Pool staff and police was racially motivated.

Mrs Tepou and her children were issued a Tresspass Order by Police based on unsubstantiated information from pool staff. She has lodged a personal grievance with Race Relations Commissioner, Dame Susan Devoy.

Their actions prompted public condemnation by Pacific parliamentarians and candidates.

Labour’s Su’a William Sio vented his anger telling Pacific Guardians two weeks ago, “We’ve put up with all this racial c%$# from day one and we won’t put up with it ever again. This is our country too, and we deserve better than this kind of treatment.”

He challenged Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga, the Minister for Pacific island affairs and the Assoc Minister for Local Government [responsible for public facilities like the Newmarket Pool] to intervene.

Said Su’a, “If Peseta does not step in, then essentially it means that his government by being silent about this, is agreeing with this kind of behaviour” that “the staff decision to ban this family from a publicly funded swimming pool, without any evidence to substantiate their allegations, other than the fact they saw it was a brown looking family with a Pacific island name – that it is okay to ban people on the grounds of the skin colour.”

The minister was aware of Ms Tepou’s situation and Su’a’s challenge. Through his staff, he assured Pacific Guardians two weeks ago that an official response will be issued on Ms Tepou’s situation.

More than two weeks later, we have not received any official response from Minister Peseta except promises of a response.

Unofficially, Peseta’s staff told the writer last week, the Minister is taking the case seriously. However, he is taking time over it because Ms Tepou’s children are part of the enquiry.

However, based on the information we have been given, the only explanation for the silence from Peseta and the government is Su’a’s statement, “…it means that his government by being silent about this, is agreeing with this kind of behaviour.”

The type of behavior being condoned according to Su’a “feels like we are back to the bad old days when we were clearly branded as coconuts.”

He further believed the behaviour type is an indicator that the roots of the racial undertones lie deeper than the frontline staff involved.

“This staff behaviour wouldn’t happen if they didn’t get the authority from their seniors,” said Su’a.

NZ First’s Le’au Asenati Lole-Taylor told Pacific Guardians the treatment of Ms Tepou is a result of “institutionalized racism rearing its ugly head”.

She added, “…in this incident she is first and foremost a New Zealander with the same rights as the Prime Minister or anyone else. No New Zealander has to endure this disgusting type of treatment in their own country – full stop.”

While the Vice chairperson for MANA Pasifika, James Papali’i said, ““This type of discrimination, harassment, and judgmental behaviour by people in positions of authority should not be left unchallenged and MANA Pasifka hopes that Ms Devoy investigates the incident further and hold those responsible accountable”.

 

 

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

Pacific Island Affairs Minister, Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga, has returned from a successful trip to Marlborough after the launch of the Marlborough Pacific Trust in Blenheim.

“The Trust is the first health, social and education wrap around service of its kind in the area.”

“Considering that Marlborough has the fastest growing Pacific population in the country, it’s a great move on behalf of the local Pacific community and their supporters.”

Marlborough District Mayor Alistair Sowman attended, along with tangata whenua, health providers, local high schools, health boards, local agencies and government departments.  People travelled from as far afield as Auckland, Christchurch and Invercargill.

Mr Lotu-Iiga has been travelling the country extensively talking to regional Pacific populations.

“The regional landscape for Pacific people is different from the big cities, in the smaller towns the migrant families coming in on quotas, or the Pacific Access Category make up a larger component of their Pacific population.”

Their priorities are similar to local Pacific communities including jobs, housing, education, social services and health.

Peseta also launched the Pacific General Practitioners Network (PGPN) last Thursday in Auckland.  The aim of the Network is to become known as a leading authority on Pacific primary care issues.

“The PGPN is ideally placed to provide the necessary clinical advice and guidance to both the Network and mainstream service providers on Pacific health matters.”

Mr Lotu-Iiga says the government is interested in improving outcomes for Pacific people across the board. It is important that these outcomes improve in both cities and in the regions.

‘This also includes across the regions,’ he adds.

Domestic Pacific workers can be as successful as overseas Pacific workers in the horticulture and viticulture industries says Pacific Island Affairs Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga.

Mr Lotu-Iiga is encouraging employers to take up the New Zealand Seasonal Worker Scheme announced today by Social Development Minister Paula Bennett. The scheme will provide pastoral care and other support to assist Kiwis into seasonal work. Mrs Bennett also announced an increase to the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme. The scheme recruits seasonal workers from overseas to assist in the horticulture and viticulture industries where there are not enough New Zealand workers.

“I was in Marlborough in the weekend speaking to employers, Pacific RSE workers and domestic Pacific workers and I saw first-hand the benefits of Pacific people working in the wine industry,” says Mr Lotu-Iiga.

Marlborough produces over 75 per cent of New Zealand’s wine and RSE is a success. Mr Lotu-Iiga says more domestic Pacific workers, Samoan quota and Pacific Access Category migrants are working for viticulture and horticulture employers. This accounts for why Marlborough has the fastest growing Pacific population in New Zealand.

A Pip fruit New Zealand survey last year found that RSE had increased production by 32 per cent and the New Zealand apple industry was now over 40 per cent more productive than their competition.

“Employer support, including pastoral care, is a significant reason for the success of RSE. If appropriate and targeted a similar scheme for Kiwi seasonalworkers could also do well.”

Mr Lotu-Iiga is keen to see employers get the full benefit of having a Kiwi workforce and says hiring Pacific people in New Zealand has advantages.

“Pacific people have a strong sense of community and team work. Some have worked the land in the islands in tough conditions, and this is one of the reasons RSE workers do so well. With the right settings local Pacific workers can achieve the same results.”

Source: New Zealand Government

Anger is the emotion Pacific islands spokesperson for Labour, Su’a William Sio has when asked to comment about the shocking treatment Newmarket pool and Police staff handed Pacific islander, Ms Sarai Tepou last weekend.

A fuming Su’a told Pacific Guardians, “What they did was basically say Sarai is a thief yet they had no proof. It feels like we are back to the bad old days when we were clearly branded as coconuts, except this time in this case, this family have been called ‘thieves’ without any proof whatsoever. Everyone is entitled to be considered innocent until proven guilty.

“The Pacific community are an integral part of the modern New Zealand society today. We’ve put up with all this racial crap from day one and we won’t put up with it ever again. This is our country too, and we deserve better than this kind of treatment.”

In the weekend, Ms Tepou and her family were enjoying themselves at the Newmarket Olympic Pool until they were issued with a Trespass order by Police. An order that was based on the advice, without evidence, by Newmarket pool staff who suspected the family were perpetrators for properties gone missing from the

Ms Tepou lodged a grievance with the Race Relations Commissioner as she believed they were targeted because they are Pacific Islanders.

Su’a believes the behaviour by Newmarket pool staff is a symptom for the real source causing the incident. An indicator that the roots of the racial undertones lie deeper than the frontline staff involved.

“This staff behaviour wouldn’t happen if they didn’t get the authority from their seniors,” said Su’a. He’s calling on the Auckland Council to be involved.

“The Council should consider the staff decision to ban this family from a publicly funded swimming pool, without any evidence to substantiate their allegations, other than the fact they saw it was a brown looking family with a Pacific island name. It sends a very strong message about the organisational culture that now appears to permeate the CCO (Council Controlled Organisation) in charge of these swimming pools – that it is okay to ban people on the grounds of the skin colour.”

The racial profiling in this case, said Su’a, is of great concern as it was “aided and abetted by the police who despite having no proof, went ahead and made the allegations anyway and then banned this family from the swimming pool, without any evidence to substantiate their appalling gross allegations.

“This situation is totally unacceptable in this day and age from any organisation, especially a publicly funded organisations such as the Auckland Council and Police.”

Su’a’s fears is that these incidents could mushroom into unsightly situations in the future if not sorted urgently. It is why he’s calling on Associate Minister for Local Government, Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga to step in quickly.

“He has been given a lot of responsibility with this portfolio so he needs to act quickly to stamp out this kind of behaviour. It should be easy as he just needs to talk to the CCO management and say this behaviour is just not acceptable in this day and age, go sort it out.

“If Peseta does not step in, then essentially it means that his government by being silent about this, is agreeing with this kind of behaviour.”

A Pacific Guardians email request seeking comments from Peseta was acknowledged by his office but we have not replied before publishing deadline.

As for the Newmarket pool and Police staff, “I would expect a full and complete and public apology from both the staff and police for their attempts to blame a woman and her children based on stereotypical racial profiling,” said Su’a.

As a final statement, Su’a also issued a warning to the Pacific islands community.

“As much as we’re protective of our communities over these types of incidents, we also have some bad apples ourselves. So I’m serving notice that we would come down on them equally as hard.”

Pacific Island Affairs Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga welcomes the addition of nine Pacific recipients in the 2014 Queens Birthday Honours list.

“This is the highest number of Pacific people honoured in any single honours list,” he said in a statement.

The Queen’s Birthday Honours lists are published to recognise the achievements and service of people across New Zealand.

Included in the 2014 list are the following people of Pacific heritage:

MNZM
Ms Barbara Ala’alatoa – for services to education
Mrs Maliaga Toloaki Erick – for services to the Pacific community and health
Mr Edwin Kohlhase – for services to softball

MNZM – Honorary
Dr Lesieli Tongati’o – for services to education and the Pacific community

QSM
Miss Piripo Elisaia – for services to the Pacific Community
Mrs Fereni Ete – for services to the Pacific community and education
Corinne Hansell – for services to education
Mrs Lealofisa Setefano – for services to education and the Pacific Community

QSM – Honorary
Ms Aufaga Faimai Tuimaunga – for services to the Pacific community and education

“I am delighted these recipients of the Pacific community have been recognised for all their hard work in the health, education, community and the sports sector,” says Mr Lotu-Iiga.

PR New Zealand Government

Pacific Island Affairs Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga is on the road seeking the input of Pacific communities to help promote the success of Pacific people in New Zealand.

His nationwide tour includes Counties Manukau, West Auckland, Wellington Central, Porirua, Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill.   He also recently visited with Pacific communities in Hamilton, Levin, North Shore and the Hutt Valley.

“We have seen a real growth in jobs and incomes for Pacific people particularly in the regions,” says Mr Lotu-Iiga.  “I need to be on the ground listening to Pacific people in cities, regions and provinces.”

Nine of 11 regions around New Zealand had an increase of Pacific people in jobs in the last quarter to March 2014. Otago and Canterbury both had an increase of 21 per cent of Pacific people in jobs for the year ending March 2014. Wellington increased by 9.4 per cent for the same period.

In general Pacific employment rose from March 2013 to March 2014 when 7,900 more Pacific people went to work.

“The latest labour results show the growing strength of the New Zealand economy and the fact Pacific people are benefiting directly from this.

“By visiting our people across New Zealand and capturing Pacific aspirations and feedback, we as a government can better support Pacific success and achievement.

“We are well on our way to advancing Pacific ambitions in New Zealand.”

Mr Lotu-Iiga says Pacific communities prefer direct engagement and he is keen to meet with as many people as he can.

He will be in Porirua tonight for his penultimate fono.  This Sunday he is joining the Prime Minister’s Pacific Mission delegation to Samoa, Tonga and Niue.  The party will be celebrating Samoa’s 52nd anniversary of Independence Day in Samoa.