Ironies Buried in Thurston Garden. Has it been made into a Political Football?

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Fiji has been offered a multi-million dollar site in Dehli for its new embassy. Fiji is considering  offering a Thurston Garden site, worth about one million, to the Indians for their embassy. 

There are several ironies buried under the proposed leasing of the car park at Suva's Thurston Garden to build an Indian Embassy —and they are not all bones.

Who Are These People Who Don't Want Our Founding Document Taught in Schools?

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In a  TV1 poll released today 71% of those polled voted "yes" to teaching about the Treaty of Waitangi in all schools. 

Some may see this as a welcome sign.   

Others may wonder why the Treaty of Waitangi was taken out for special mention. If you're teaching History, you can't take out —  or should not be able to omit —such an important part of our history and not teach it at all.  

Still others may be concerned, as I am,  about the 26% who voted "no" and the 3% who did not know.  

Gordon Campbell on Sir Michael Cullen's Tax Report

Passing the buck to the renters pn279

UPDATE. Judith  Collins says new rules on making rental homes healthy is attack on landlords. Yes, she did!
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To ordinary wage and salary earners who (a) watch a slice of their gross income being taxed every week via PAYE and who also (b) pay GST on every single thing they buy, there has been something quite surreal about the centre-right’s angry and anguished reactions to the Tax Working Group’s final report.

Fiji: Five new Permanent Secretaries Appointed

This may not seem a particularly significant announcement —and I may be reading too much into it— but the track record, portfolios, ethnicity and likely appeal of the appointees suggest the PSC, and Government, are heeding lessons from the 2018 election. -- ACW.   #FijiPol

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Our Kauri Heritage?

Tane Mahuta  pn274

Just a short walk down a wooded gangway into the rainforest of Waipoua, near Dargaville on New Zealand’s North Island, is a living giant. Its name is Tāne Mahuta and it’s a kauri tree – one of the largest types (by girth rather than height) in the world. Tāne is named after the Maori forest god and, in the myth, is the fruit of the primordial parents: his growth having broken apart the embrace of Ranginui, the “sky father” and Papatūānuku, the “Earth mother,” allowing the space and light for life to flourish.

Are Facebook and Twitter Killing Mainstream Media and Blogs?

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The print media is threatened by the internet, resulting in mergers, layoffs and closures. Blogs and websites are also threatened.  This Scoop article argues that it could be the end for objectivity in journalism.

"2019 looks like it might well be another really bad, terrible, not so good year for the traditional journalism model globally.

Fiji: Agreement in Church-State Education Dilemma

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All future principals and headteachers at a school run by a faith based organisation will have a clause in their job description which declares that “the head of school uphold and foster the ethos of the school and the school community.”

Weekend Reading 23-24 February 2019

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Saturday 8qm. Fiji: Agreement in Church-State Dilemma

Saturday 3pm. Are Facebook and Twitter Killing Mainstream Media and  Blogs?

Sunday 6pm. Our Kauri Heritage.

Where are the "Maori Nationalist" Jihadists?

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Stereotyping and unintended racism is not dead, even at the highest levels.

Maori  leaders have called for consequences after a Department of Corrections working group on countering violent extremism identified "Māori nationalist groups" as a potential threat to the public. 

The Countering Violent Extremism: Community Engagement Forum workgroup identified Māori nationalist groups as potential threats, alongside jihad, far right groups, and groups who undertook violent action. Read on.

Proposed Capital Gains Tax: Slammed by National, Applauded by Others

Sir Michael Cullen pn273

The Tax Working Group report was supported by eight and opposed by three of its 11 members. The political leanings of the former, with the exception of one Greens supporter, are not known; the latter are business leaders.

The first thing to note about the Tax Working  Group headed by Sir Michael Cullen is that its report comprises recommendations, and the second that the recommendations will be considered by Government and, in due course, by Parliament. Nothing is set in concrete at this stage.

Fiji Elections Credible But Still Some Problems

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The final report from MOG, the Multinational Observer Group comprising 77 observers from ten countries, gave what, in my assessment was an 8 out of 10 for the 2018 Election process.  Click here for the FijiVillage summary.

NZ: The Oil industry, Climate Change, Public Housing, Capital Gains Tax, Marijuana, Euthanesia, Whanau Ora Model Working

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Oil and gas ban could cost billions  says NZIER  report.

But Greenpeace reject the  oil industry-funded  report claiming "false news and flatulence."

Climate change deniers or just cautious? Twenty-three councils around New Zealand refuse to sign climate change commitment

Greens welcome   increase in  state house building

Slightly over one-half kiwis against Capital Gains Tax and many undecided, says poll.

Capital Gains Tax and vested interests, including many MPs.

It's interesting that National, ACT and others have commented on the report. It is not due out until tomorrow!

Conscience-Issues May Cause National Problems Euthanesia and marijuana

Whanau Ora gets "glowing" report. Long way to go but model working.

Final Report Fiji 2018 Election

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Click here to read the 2018 Election Final Report by the Supervisor of Elections, or leave it to the weekend when you have more time. It's 140-odd pages.  The election cost $19 million, slightly less than budget, and over 30,000 people were engaged at some time in its administration. 

Polytech "Monster Merger"

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John Gerritsen on RNZ analyses Government's plan for Polytech "monster merger." Read on.

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

Peni Moore pn265

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 Warming

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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

Bridges and Ardern pn262

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

Margaret Kawharu NZOM pn260

"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.

The World Does Not Lack the Resources to Abolish Poverty

Point of View

Hardly Anyone Is Too Poor to Share

A basic level of social protection is affordable nearly everywhere

Michael Cichon

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"The world does not lack the resources to abolish poverty, it lacks the right priorities. " So said Juan Somavía, former director general of the International Labour Organization (ILO), in 1999.

We may have made progress in recent decades, but the world remains a miserable place for more than half of its population. 

Each person in that majority suffers from at least one of three human-made or at least human-tolerated societal plagues: gross inequality, debilitating insecurity, and inhumane poverty. We have known for more than a century what can be done to make things better. Social protection effectively and swiftly reduces inequality and poverty through transfers in cash and kind. A solid basic level of social protection is affordable and implementable nearly everywhere. It can be achieved now or—at least after some investment in good governance—fairly soon.

Interview with SODELPA Whip Lyda Tabuya

Fiji TV's Stanley Simpson (S@8) interviews Lynda Tabuya who merged her Peoples' Democratic Party with SODELPA for last year's election. She is now balances her tasks as a lawyer, mother of six with her work as the SODELPA whip. She explains why the merger, talks of SODELPA's different ideologies, her parliamentary priorities, and why she's prepared to to work with the FijiFirst Government on a number of issues.  If SODELPA wins the next election, I hope her "ideology" dominates SODELPA's policies.   44 minutes.


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https://youtu.be/mjZV6nenZo0

Australian and NZ Pacific Policies: Similarities and Differences

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Increased concerns about the growing influence of China in the Pacific seem to be the main reason why Australia, and to a lesser extent NZ, have "reset" their Pacific aid programmes. Their combined yearly aid now totals A$1B and both have increased their diplomatic presence. 

Capitalism's Vote of Confidence in the NZ Labour Coalition

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Standard and Poor’s Just Sabotaged Simon Bridges’ Tax Bribe Announcement 
Extract from Frank Macskasy* in The Daily Blog, February 1, 2019

With indications that the Tax Working Group will shortly be making its final report back to the Coalition, and with expectations that it will recommend a Capital Gains Tax on property (excluding the family home), National has launched a multi-media campaign on taxation. Twitter, Facebook, as well as the msm have all carried National’s announcement to cut taxes (dressed up as “tax adjustments” to deflect criticism that National is once again planning to cut taxes for the rich).

Samoa and the Pros and Cons of Chinese Aid - Stewart Firth

UPDATE.  New Samoa-NZ Partnership Agreement. Click here.

Economics, Politics and Public Policy in East Asia and the Pacific

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China, Samoa and debt-for-equity swaps

1 January 2019

Author: Stewart Firth, ANU

Last year, Australia discovered the debt owed to Chinese banks by Pacific island countries. As the debate over China’s intentions in the region grew, commentators pointed to the possibility that Pacific countries might be compelled to accept debt-for-equity swaps if they could not repay. The port of Hambantota in Sri Lanka, where a Chinese company obtained a 99-year lease to run commercial operations in return for helping to pay the country’s debt, was the commonly raised example.

Is the South Pacific Drying Up?

An uncertain future lies ahead for children of the South Pacific
 [GALLO/GETTY]        pn133

A look at how South Pacific island communities are struggling to adapt to changing weather patterns
by Richard Angwin

Hosking and Slater Spoilt the Party

  Aotearoa      pn261

A 2017 Colmar Brunton poll showed that 31% of New Zealanders thought Government should not attend the Waitangi Celebrations.

If you believe, having watched this year's Waitangi Day celebrations, that racism and tolerance  are on the way out in the Land of the Long White Cloud, unfortunately you need to think again.  

Weekend Reading 9th-10th February 2019

Saturday
♥ Capitalism's vote for the Labour Coalition Government
♦ Samoa and the pros and cons of Chinese aid

Sunday
 ♣ Interview with SODELPA Whip Lynda Tabuya (video)
 ♠ World does not lack resources to end absolute poverty

Gordon Campbell Calls Aussie Banks Names

 

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Let us now turn our attention if we may, to the nefarious practices of the Australian Banking Gang, and in particular to their extraordinary level of profit taking from New Zealand. ANZ made a record $1.99 billion profit in 2018, which works out at $416 extracted from every single New Zealander. BNZ has racked up a $1.029 billion profit the same year. Westpac’s profit was up by 5% this year, to $1,017 billion as well. In June 2018, ASB reported a 10% rise in profit to $1.177 billion.  Click to read why Gordon Campbell Calls Aussie Banks Names...


http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1902/S00024/gordon-campbell-on-why-the-aussie-banks-are-bastards.htm

Five Maori Leaders on Health, Education, the Maori Economy, Justice and the Maori Crown Partnership

Stuff invited five Māori leaders at the coalface of Māori issues, who didn't get an invitation to speak at Waitangi, to share their perspectives.

Carmen Parahi pn264

All  agree treaty settlements should be used for economic development and not to fix Māori social issues. Instead, Māori need to develop their own solutions in partnership with the Crown. 
This article by Carmen Parahi  (carmen.parahi@stuff.co.nz).

The leaders are Dr David Tipene-Leach on Health, School Principal Myles Ferris on Education, Trust asset chair Kate Paul on the Maori Economy, Sir Kim Workman on Justice, and  criminal lawyer and academic Khylee Quince on Maori and Crown Partnership. 

Robin Nair Thinks Bainimarama Can Still Retrieve the Democracy Promised

Ministerial Reshuffle, January 2018: An Opinion by Robin Nair

Nair and the PM in happier times/ pn255

Speaker's Corner, Suva

Robin Nair is a lawyer who was Permanent Secretary of Foreign Affairs in Fiji until April 2017 when he resigned — or was dismissed by Bainimarama. Take your pick., Previously he was a senior diplomat in  Australia and Fiji.He now  advises several governments on good governance, meritocracy and democracy.  

Considering the circumstances of his leaving government, and his overall concern at the state of democracy in Fiji (see his comments on the Public Service) I consider this  a most encouraging article, although I have reservations with his recommendation of a Government of National Unity.  The emphasis in the text is mine.  -- ACW

Waitangi Day, the Treaty and its Articles

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A Colmer Brunton poll in Feb.2017 found 31% of Kiwis thought Government should not attend the Waitangi celebrations. I wonder it that's changed.

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It made headlines when Jacinda Ardern, among others, did not know the Articles of the Treaty of Waitangi, and the interviewer did not enlighten us. Indeed,  of the dozen or so articles published on Waitangi 2019 so far, not one has dealt with the Articles —or the history of the Treaty. Here's a brief summary:

Hawkesby's Coverage of the Labour Party Retreat

Tweedle Dumb and Tweedle Dumb pn 256

You can see why she married Mike Hosking. Two right-winged birds. How could you possibly expect either of them to fly —or report anything— in a balanced way? But this Hawkseby article  where she criticises what people were wearing at last week's Labour Party Retreat couldn't be much more inane.  Martyn Bradbury in The Daily Blog thinks it could be her worst column ever. 

"I thought Kate’s hateful attack on a garden in a prison and her weird attack on Meghan Markle were pretty awful columns, but basing an entire one on what MPs wore at a retreat seems so shallow it’s difficult to do anything other than mock it."

 But then he's a left-leaning bird.
--ACW

See also
Willie Jackson's comment. 

Michael Field Smells a Conspiracy

Inia Seruiratu pn262

A week ago Michael Field wrote an article headed The Face of Military Censorship that took  a swipe at Fiji's new Foreign Affairs Minister Inia Seruiratu on the occasion of his first speech as minister addressing young diplomats at an NZMFAT-funded protocol training seminar. 

This is Not the News We are Getting on Venezuela

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Watching the Venezuela item  on  TVNZ1 News tonight we heard about rampant inflation, soaring food prices and an ineffective Government.  The country is falling apart because of socialism. What we did not hear were the main reasons for this disaster, among which are American boycotts and interference. Here's what The Daily Blog had to say:  

This blog is on NZ and the Pacific. Why have I published this article on Venezuela? Because it illustrates how shaped our world view is when our TV remains so dependent on right-wing American footage.   

Read  also what a Venezuelan has to say

People who care about democracy don't plot coups abroad         --ACW

Two Views on Simon Bridges' Tax Thresholds

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Martyn Bradbury (click for full article) in The Daily Blog argues that Simon Bridges' promise to progressively revamp tax thresholds  to keep  pace with inflation is no better than an offer of  a Big MacCombo.

National’s tax plan to give the average worker an extra $430 a year. National leader Simon Bridges is pledging to move tax thresholds every three years in line with inflation, which would see someone on the average wage with an extra $430 a year in 2021.
…so what does that work out as weekly? $8.27 per week, that’s not even a Big Mac Combo each week.

Tracy Watkins (click for full article) in Stuff,  on the other hand, argues that:

"Bridges announced a shift in tax thresholds to ensure middle-income workers weren't pushed into the top tax bracket – a promise that ticks both the "fairness' box and cost-of-living concerns. Labour barely even bothered to criticise the announcement, because it knew that it would be popular."

She also discusses the difficulties Labour will face in ts response to the Tax Working Group, that is likely to recommend a capital gains tax is front and centre of its recommendations.