Oh! For Fair and Informed Reporting on Fiji

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I have no gripes about Gavin Ellis. His media reputation is well deserved. Nor do I have any gripes about Asia Pacific Report that published his report  "Don’t be fooled by Fiji PM’s apology over arrests – media freedom is dire". 

But I do take exception to the heading that implies Bainimarama's apology for the arrest of three NZ journalists investigating environmental damage on Malolo Island, and their subsequent release, was insincere. Surely, the Fiji Government's withdrawal of the Chinese company's licence soon afterwards is proof enough of the sincerity of his apology. 

How Much is Government the Cause of the Fall of Business Confidence?

False because either-or is not the only choice pn152

Despite New Zealand's relatively healthy growth and prospects (subject, of course, to international events over which we have no control) business confidence continues to fall. 

Business confidence, of course, is only one economic indicator —and a not very robust one at that— of how the economy is faring, and likely to fare over the next 12 months.

But the  latest  MYOB Business Monitor Snapshot poll  (412 interviewed) of small to mid-sized businesses shows a sharp slump in both general confidence and - more worryingly - actual revenue, with petrol costs standing out as the biggest concern, with taxes and the minimum wage.  

MYOB general manager Carolyn Luey said that while this was concerning business operators were not panicking.

Compulory Te Reo Māori debate fails to address key problems, say critics

Māori language week was celebrated last week and the key issue in the media was a debate on whether Te Reo Māori should be made compulsory in New Zealand schools. 

Mike Mohr of Asia Pacific Journalism* reports.

Te Reo Māori lessons ... lack of teachers and resources
make it hard for a compulsory approach.
Image: Māori Television pn92

Amid the debate over the issue of compulsory Te Reo Māori lessons in New Zealand schools that intensified last week, many arguments and opinions for and against were voiced.

Many New Zealanders support the idea of te reo being introduced more widely into schools, with overwhelming media coverage in support for compulsory Te Reo be implemented into the New Zealand core school curriculum by 2025.

But the question that has not yet been answered is whether it is possible or realistic, and the views of some who do not agree with the notion of compulsion have not yet been fully voiced.

It is an ongoing debate that has divided many New Zealanders in support of its implementation and those opposed to Te Reo being made compulsory.

And I also back the Massey VC on Brash exclusion

I worked at Massey University, Palmerston North, for over 20 years, retiring as an Associate Professor and Director of the newly-founded Centre for Development Studies before moving to the University of the South Pacific in Fiji for another five years. 

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Massey, the university traditions of independent research and enquiry, and free speech are important to me. But so also are the intrinsic principles that underpin these values. 

False speech, hate speech and racism have no place in university traditions.  The view that it is better to give these views "air" so that they can be disputed and refuted has merit, but only limited merit. I respect this option, but think the Vice-Chancellor has taken the better one. (Click on "Read more" below.)

3. We're all in this together: the inter-dependence of NZ and the Pacific Islands

When Helen du Plessis-Allan (@HDPA) came under attack for her negative and, some would say, outrageous remarks abut Pacific Islanders, she tried to dodge the issue, saying

" I do not regret what I said because I was not talking about people living in this country or the people themselves. I was talking about the Pacific Islands and the people who run it [sic]."

Barbara Dreaver "We are all in this together."  pn 90

 Come on. What then was she talking about?  The geography  of the Pacific Islands and its political leaders?  Nothing and nobody else?  Not even the Niueans she called "welfare spongers"?   Who is going to believe this!

Part 2. A History of the New Zealand-Pacific Islands relationship

Helen du Plessis-Allan's  view of  Pacific Islanders is that they "don't count". They  are of no importance to New Zealand.  She sees them as  "welfare spongers" and Nauru as a "hell hole". Good talkback host she may be,  and her provocative comments probably increase her ratings, but she is abysmally ignorant of New Zealand and Pacific Islands history.  She claims to be interested in politics but politics without history is like  a three-legged horse.  

[Note: I have used the modern names for the islands mentioned.]

Part 2. A  History of New Zealand-Pacific Islands relationship

For most of the 19th Century Britain, France, Germany and the Unites States were competing to increase their world-wide  colonies,  and their "last grab for empire" included the Pacific. 

1. The Pacific Islanders: "leeches" that "don't matter"

In this first part of a series of three,  Newstalk ZB commentator Helen du Plessis-Allan offers her opinions on the relationship between Pacific Islanders and New Zealand.

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Part-Afrikaner Helen du Plessis-Allan, who emigrated to NZ aged 12, proudly wrote an anti-apartheid essay before leaving South Africa  and just as proudly recalls mixing with Maori and Pasifika students at her decile  2 Auckland secondary school.   

She professes a life-long interest in politics and admits enjoyment in reminding politicians they have feet of clay.

Now 34 and married to fellow journalist 66-year old Barry Soper she would dispute she is "just another Hosking" as those who dislike her opinions maintain.  

But there are similarities. Both are self-opinionated, both insult those who attack them, both seek sensational headlines, both are ultra right-wing, and, most importantly,  both regularly fail to provide any evidence to support their opinions, and both lack any sense of context or history.

This is nowhere better illustrated than in du Plessis-Allan's  recent attack on the PM for attending the Pacific Islands Forum meeting in Nauru and her follow-up comment that the Pacific Islands "don't matter." 

"They are nothing but leeches on us." she said. "The Pacific Islands wants (sic!)  money from us."

So much for the accusations. I was now waiting for some facts, argument or evidence  to support them, but all I'm left with is her unsupported opinions with no indication on whether  they were formed as a result of her study, research  or experience. 

This is a trait she shares with Mike Hosking. Make a provocative statement, deflect attention from the need for evidence by attacking those who disagree -- and bask in the publicity received.  

Was Jacinda at the right venues this weekend?

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I think Jacinda was at the wrong venue this weekend. 

And Tim Watkin, Newshub Nation production executive and Dan Corin, Q+A presenter really do have a case against her. 

She  was  scheduled to appear on their programmes on Sunday but due to what was said to be a diary oversight, she cancelled and instead fronted up to a public meeting of  the faithful  in Auckland with  Deputy PM Winston Peters and Greens leader James Shaw.

Who's Stupid? Who's Culpable?

The NZ Herald (weekly circulation 790,000) couldn't find any space for the Beo Declaration on Climate change signed by NZ, Australia and 16 Pacific Island nations, all seriously worried about climate change,

Hosking, apologies to Tom Scott.  pn71

But as always it found space for the opinions of the buffoon, our very own know-it-all-on-everything climate change denier, our forever-in-the-news Mike Hosking.
And this on the same day the Forum closed.

"Stupid climate solutions - people don't want to bike to work"  he says in writing off the Productivity Commission's report.   The Herald adding it will only take you "3 minutes to read" so attention-deficient readers should be able to get through this one.

Hoskings says the report  was  undertaken "at our expense... to make our lives more miserable ... (it) has 77 recommendations, including taxing motor cars while making electric ones cheaper, and getting rid of a lot of farms and planting a lot of trees (but) there is still much debate about climate .. (change (sic!)  We ...  don't make any significant contribution  ... at what point do we draw the line between the upheaval required and the shambles it would create to do so?

"In simple terms, are we prepared to wreck our economy and therefore standard of living merely to be seen to be doing our part?"

I'm really so disgusted with Hosking's views  and  the Herald's  culpability for publishing them. They shouldn't be given any more publicity, except that I wanted to share my disgust with you .

Here's a summary of the  Productivity Commission Report. A link to the full report is provided at the end.

ACW
P,S. I see Whaleoil republishes Hosking's article in full, with no comment. I presume he approves.