TV1 News Dangerously Close to Crossing the Line

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I thought TV1 News tonight came dangerously close to  crossing  the line between informative reporting and advocacy which comes down to  political interference and persuasion. This is not the role of the media, especially the state-owned media.

The news item was about the latest poll NVNZ1 Colmar Brunton poll that I reported last Tuesday!

Simon Bridges was savaged.  And that is not a fair go!

This was news, not an opinion piece.

Click here to read and listen.

Solomon Islands Historical Encyclopaedia On Line

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The Solomon Islands Historical Encyclopaedia, 1893-1978 contains more than 700 entries on places, historical events, institutions, concepts and individuals. This is the first digital Encyclopaedia for any Pacific Island nation and enables access to the colonial years of the Solomon Islands. Click here to access.   Then Read on...

Prospects for a NZ-EU Agricultural Trade Deal

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The EU and New Zealand want to wrap up an FTA this year - but will that come at the cost of a good deal on agriculture? Phil Hogan, the EU’s

agriculture commissioner, spoke to Sam Sachdeva about the likely sticking points, a spat over tariffs, and taking on a “bully” like Donald Trump. Read on

Four Informed Views on Fiji before the 2014 Election, and RNZ Cancels my planned talks

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What four informed people had to say on Bryan Crump's RNZ Nights' Symposium Fiji programme in 2010.  The four were Nik Naidu of the NZ Coalition for Democracy in Fiji, Richard Pamatatau RNZ Pacific Issues Correspondent, Fiji citizen and NGO Women's Action for Change co-founder the late Peni Moore who passed away in 2016, and myself. 

 I thought Bryan did an excellent job  convening.

Nik Naidu

The main issues raised were coups and democracy, media freedom, poverty and the economy, and where Fiji was heading.  Nik thought the situation was a mix of good and bad, Richard that it was all bad, Peni that a process was in place and things were moving forward, and I largely agreed with Peni.  Click here to listen.  It's rather long, 40 minutes, so you may care to take a coffee break half way through.

"Late Capitalism" and Global Warmng

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"With increasing frequency as climate mitigation is investigated certain economic statistics stand out like a throbbing sore thumb: “The top three greenhouse gas emitters— China, the EU and the US—contribute more than half of total global emissions, while the bottom 100 countries only account for 3.5%.  Collectively, the top 10 emitters account for nearly three-quarters (75%) of global emissions. The world can’t possibly successfully tackle the climate change challenge without significant action from these top-emitting countries.” (Source: World Resources Institute)
Read all the article

Weekend Reading 16th-17th February 2019

Saturday
♥ "Late Capitalism" and Global Warming. 8am
♦  Four Informed  Views on Fiji Before the 2014 Election (video) and RNZ Cancels my scheduled talks. 12 noon.
Sunday
♣ Prospects for a NZ-EU Agricultural Trade Deal. 2pm.
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More Taukei in FijiFirst Cabinet Lineup

New Assistant Ministers pn270

It's so obvious, it should not need stating.

The FijiFirst Government has got to be seen as a truly multi-ethnic party where the status of all is protected. (See my previous postings, pn20141, pn269, pn, pn245). 

It is too easily portrayed by its detractors as an Indo-Fijian party, hostile to Taukei interests. True, more Indo-Fijians voted for FijiFirst and more Taukei for SODELPA, but a large number of Taukei also voted for FijiFirst.

Fiji Tidbits: Consulting the "People", Children's Savings, FHL, a Taukei Business, Alleged Misinformation.

Consulting the People

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Peter Waqavonovono on Facebook

12 February at 19:17 · 

Happening now in Parliament, your Fijifirst Government is trying to fast track a Bill under Standing Order 51 that the native people of Fiji have the right to be consulted on any laws that affect them.SODELPA is arguing that as the first people's of Fiji, the NATIVE FIJIANS must be consulted, and consent given for any changes to the law Government is proposing

Poll Speaks for itself

Labour up a lot, NZ First up a little, National  down a lot, Greens down a little. Undecided (not shown) 2.9%.3.1% margin of error.

Ardern (and Bridges) on the State of Nation

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Radio NZ reported  Jacinda Ardern's State of the Nation address to business leaders in Auckland last week.  It was her first major address this year. She spoke of what N Z is doing to protect itself from global economic headwinds, tertiary education to match job needs, structural issues and business confidence.   

Ratu Epeli New Speaker in Fiji Parliament

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High Chief Na Turaga Mai Naisogolaca and former soldier, diplomat and politician, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, has been elected by 30 votes to 21 as Speaker of the Fiji Parliament to replace the late Dr Jiko Luveni who died in December. The vote suggests that the three National Federation Party MPs joined FijiFirst in voting for him, and the 21 SODELPA MPs voted against. 

Maori Business Enterprises -- Margaret Kawharu

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"Māori enterprises ... are making their mark on the NZ economy and growing steadily year on year. 

"Ministry of Business, Enterprise and Industry (MBIE) figures in May 2018 estimate Māori enterprise is worth nearly $40 billion and growing faster than the economy as a whole. Māori employers, while flying largely under the radar, have amassed assets of $22.4 billion, according to a 2013 report by BERL.