Snippets: NZ, China, Economy, Religion, Melanesian Spearhead Group, Political Change

Notice: See new poll in lefthand column.

Now Hear This!

John Key has told China its aid the the Pacific Region may undermine what he called Australian and NZ efforts to "improve governance in the region."

China, Government Loans to Housing Authority
Government has guaranteed $150m over five years to the Housing Authority in case the Authority's soft 2% loan of $70m with China falls through. The money will be used to house approximately 10,000 families, including squatters.

Fiji-China Trade
A China Embassy spokesman said trade last year was good for both countries, and is expected to increase again this year, especially in tourism from China.

Tourism Up
The Hoteliers Association says tourist numbers have increased over the past two months and are expected to remain bouyant until Christmas. Many, however, are visiting for shorter stays.

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Momi Bay Auction The failed multi-million dollar Momi Bay resort will be auctioned tomorrow. The auction has attracted over 100 possible buyers from around the world.

At Last
The Fiji Times in its first political coverage for months reported "Some Methodist churches, particularly in greater Suva, yesterday sang songs they had prepared for the banned annual choir competition." Subtle, eh!

Assemblies of God
AOG, with about 40,000 members and 80% ethnic Fijian membership, is holding a week-long conference in Nausori this week. Over 5,000 people are expected to attend. They had no difficulty in obtaining a permit.

Melanesian Spearhead Group
MSG foreign ministers meeting in Suva this week have taken legal opinion into account in stating that "Fiji should be part of the PACER-Plus discussion," according to PNG's Rima Ravusiro. MSG holds that Fiji's suspension from the Forum should not affect its PACER and other trade positions because they are legally different. This view is not shared by Australia, NZ and Samoa, although Mr Ravusiro thinks there has been some improvement in this regard. Fiji says it has every legal right to be part of the negotiations meetings and that its role in such trade agreements is separate to its Forum status.

New District Commissioners
Radio NZI reports Tupou Vere of the NGO Pacific Concerns Resource Centre as questioning why army officers have been appointed commissioners for Fiji's four administrative divisions, and not civilians from the Ministry of Provincial Development. Is it, as Government claims, part of plan to improve efficiency, or evidence that "Fiji’s military regime has increased its grip on power," as Vere and RNZI obviously believe?

PM on Political Changes
Radio Fiji reports the PM as saying the Presidency and the Parliamentary system will be two issues that Government will consider when drafting the new Fiji Constitution during the the upcoming Constitutional review. He said "it will be put to the public if they want a President to be leading the country or just to have a Prime Minister to lead the country". Other decisions to be made include: whether there's a need for Senate, whether to reduce the number of MPs, and whether to adopt a new electoral system.

Photo credit: Chinese dragon. www.scapetv.com.