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.