Is Manasseh Sogovare Ungrateful, Greedy, or Just Playing Us All?

Written By: - Date published: 11:31 am, July 17th, 2023 - 27 comments
Categories: australian politics, China, International, Pacific - Tags:

So recently the Solomon Islands signed an agreement with China on “law enforcement and security matters”. It’s also right on the 20th anniversary of Australia and New Zealand bailing the Solomons out of a massive civil war.

From 1998 to 2003 the Solomon Islands were a cot case of violent civil conflict with over 200 fatalities.

In one typical example of mass murder, warlord Harold Keke admitted to taking hostage and then murdering six Anglican religious brothers.

So the Solomon Islands reached out for help and Australia and New Zealand got together a 2,000-strong regional law and order intervention force.

About 20 of the deaths were from fighting between militants from Guadalcanal and Malaita, and this was all set down in the Solomon Islands Truth and Reconciliation Report.

The Australian and New Zealand policing force then went about removing 3,700 weapons, arrested 773 people, laid over 1,000 charges against militants, and went on to collect a further 1,755 weapons with an international peace monitoring team and with churches.

Granted the RAMSI force wasn’t a comprehensive nation-building initiative, but it did a strong and effective job that stabilise what was a bloody mess.

In November 2021 rioters tore through Honiara and yup Australian forces were brought in to stabilise the situation again.

So now what we have from the leadership in the Solomons is signing with the Chinese government in a “comprehensive strategic partnership” that will “enhance cooperation on law enforcement and security matters. The Chinese side will continue to provide support and help to Solomon Islands as needed in strengthening Solomon Islands police law enforcement capacity.”

Now, sure should neocolonial all you like and be grateful or not for the service of Australian and New Zealand officers as is your right, but what the hell is going on?

We probably don’t need reminding that the nearby island nation of Kiribati also switched official relations to Beijing in 2019. Sogovare is just playing everyone and putting his price up each time, and it’s pathetic.

It was also in September last year that United States President Biden convened a summit of Pacific Island leaders to unveil a strategy that included climate change cooperation, maritime security, and preventing overfishing, and of course a whole bunch of funding.

It’s beset by poor governance, a highly inefficient public sector, very little capital for development, and high reliance on aid agencies, remoteness, and multi-year crises.

Sure, the Solomon Islands is a weak, mostly subsistence, high corruption state barely recovering from the ravages of COVID, and needs lots of help all the time and likely always will. It will take help and cash wherever it can get it.

But there is no reason to keep bailing the Solomons out when they can’t recognise an ally when it’s been working with them for decades.

And that’s the message Australia and New Zealand need to start delivering nice and straight.

27 comments on “Is Manasseh Sogovare Ungrateful, Greedy, or Just Playing Us All? ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Wei 1
    17 July 2023 at 1:23 pm

    What's wrong with the Solomon's having good relations and agreements with many countries at the same time, if it sees this to its advantage?

    After all, New Zealand is attempting good relations with China, at the same time as nurturing historic links with the Americans?

    Should NZ not have signed the FTA with China, because America helped NZ out in WW2?

    Pacific Island countries have every right to sign agreements with whoever they please. And if NZ reaction is to simply cut the links, then China will be more than pleased to pick up the slack.

    According to the writer’s line of thinking NZ must also be ‘ungrateful, greedy’ for benefitting from China trade while sucking up to the US. Or the other way round benefitting from US help during WW2 but cultivating strong economic and cultural links with China

    I’m sure if Australia and NZ in a fit of pique cut ties and aid to the Solomons, Sogavare (and Beijing) will simply respond “go ahead, make my day”

    • UncookedSelachimorpha 1.1
      18 July 2023 at 3:39 am

      "What's wrong with the Solomon's having good relations and agreements with many countries at the same time, if it sees this to its advantage?"

      There is a lot wrong with asking a foreign power that ruthlessly suppresses dissent and surveils and censors everyone in its own country, to help you control your own country's citizens.

      • Wei 1.1.1
        18 July 2023 at 7:35 pm

        Probably a lot less wrong than aligning with the US, which will either assassinate leaders they don't like, or outright invade with scant regard for civilian casualties resulting in a hecatomb of corpses of innocent men, women, and children.

        China's actions in the Pacific are benign compared with the West. Afterall, they have never tested their nuclear weapons down these parts and have not carried out acts of war in the Pacific – such as the French terrorist attack on the Rainbow Warrior.

        • UncookedSelachimorpha 1.1.1.1
          19 July 2023 at 3:51 am

          Rather than so many words – you could summarise with one

          "Whatabout…"

          I don't like the faults of the USA, France etc in the Pacific and around the world. Doesn't make another power doing bad things OK.

  2. Wei 2
    17 July 2023 at 1:25 pm

    "We probably don’t need reminding that the nearby island nation of Kiribati also switched official relations to Beijing in 2019."

    Sorry, that's arrogant neocolonial thinking. So there is something untoward about Kiribati switching official relations to Beijing, when New Zealand did this in 1972, and the US in 1978, and the UK in 1950????

    • Dennis Frank 2.1
      17 July 2023 at 1:53 pm

      Exposing neocolonial defaults is indeed helpful. China's recycling of patronage is just as valid as ours. However there's little evident comprehension of how to use autonomy with that, in the case of Tibet. Given that centuries of China doing so in an apparent win/win foreign policy is a feasible basis for doing so, it's a puzzle.

      I presume a cynic would point to resource extraction as being the difference (heavy metals). If the island leader is aware of the history, he ought to be watching for the repeat pattern. Those who fail to learn from history are condemned to repeat it.

      https://americanart.si.edu/artwork/those-who-cannot-remember-past-are-condemned-repeat-it-george-santayana-life-reason-1905

  3. Drowsy M. Kram 3
    17 July 2023 at 1:29 pm

    But there is no reason to keep bailing the Solomons out when they can’t recognise an ally when it’s been working with them for decades.

    And that’s the message Australia and New Zealand need to start delivering nice and straight.

    Would a message delivered "nice and straight" have the desired effect? Diplomacy eh?

    That nice US opened embassies in Honiara & Nuku'alofa earlier this year. Vanuatu next.

  4. Dennis Frank 4
    17 July 2023 at 1:40 pm

    Now, sure should neocolonial all you like and be grateful or not for the service of Australian and New Zealand officers as is your right, but what the hell is going on?

    Any chance of editing this so it makes sense? If you're just trying to do postmodernism, then yes, it does work on that basis…

  5. Tiger Mountain 5
    17 July 2023 at 1:55 pm

    A cringe worthy column. Small Pacific nations have long been dictated to by macro economic and military decisions made far away. French, UK and US Nuclear testing that smashed and ruined atolls, and spread radioactive waste. Marshall Islands and many others are still seeking adequate compensation. US Military bases and surveillance facilities sited on what should sovereign territories all around the region.

    And now the Solomons should be grateful because there are US officials and security people galore roaming around the Pacific like they own the place?

    Pacific nations need to use all the bargaining power they have in this time of sea level rise and inter imperialist rivalry. The Chinese will build needed infrastructure and mutually beneficial relations rather than the one way street approach typical of the USA.

  6. Sanctuary 6
    17 July 2023 at 2:40 pm

    Big trouble is coming for the Solomons. If Sogovare thinks he can just hand over the place to China for (presumably) wads of cash he will be in for an unpleasant surprise. The US and Australia will not let it happen. Having a potential enemy base astride your sea communications is as unacceptable now as it was in 1942 when it led to the protracted Guadalcanal campaign.

    • Francesca 6.1
      17 July 2023 at 2:56 pm

      So what should Australia /US do about the ungrateful wretch?

      Invade?

      Offer larger wads of cash.?Isn't it the Solomon's right to align with whoever they want?

      Its not as if they're anywhere near US boundaries, and they're 4,000 kms from Australia.How can their arrangement harm those countries?

      Or is the Pacific an American lake now?

      • Sanctuary 6.1.1
        17 July 2023 at 3:32 pm

        Of course they'll invade, except they won't have on account of being invited to intervene on account of instability.

        As the OP points out, the Solomons is a highly corrupt, subsistence country tettering on the edge of failed state status. If some corrupt dude is going to run the place, he might as well be our corrupt dude.

  7. Francesca 7
    17 July 2023 at 3:02 pm

    Big trouble is coming to Ukraine.

    If Zelensky thinks he can just hand over the place to the US for presumably wads of cash he will be in for an unpleasant surprise

    Russia will not let it happen

    Having a potential enemy base on your boundaries (and threatening your warm water naval base )is as unacceptable now as it was in 1942 when it led to a protracted campaign

    • Ed 7.1
      17 July 2023 at 5:02 pm

      You have succinctly nailed the hypocrisy of the war party.

    • UncookedSelachimorpha 7.2
      18 July 2023 at 3:42 am

      "Big trouble is coming to Ukraine."

      The Ukrainian's will be amazed to hear of this brand new behaviour from russia….

  8. Sanctuary 8
    17 July 2023 at 3:33 pm

    Very clever. I bet you got your history degree from an ad on a weetbix box.

  9. Phillip ure 9
    17 July 2023 at 4:32 pm

    Short answer: they are a sovereign nation…

    And can deal with who they choose..

    It is none of our business/influence..

  10. Sanctuary 10
    18 July 2023 at 6:15 am

    FDR is reported to have said about Rafael Trujillo, dictator of the Dominican Republic: "He may be a bastard, but he's our bastard."

    Which is all the Australians and Americans want in the Solomons.

    • Francesca 10.1
      18 July 2023 at 9:08 am

      There you go

      The good old rules based order in a nutshell

      Just stop pretending there's a moral ethical basis behind foreign policy

  11. Sanctuary 11
    18 July 2023 at 11:31 am

    These things are not abstract water cooler whatabboutisms.

    The latest generation of Chinese MRBMs (Medium Range Ballistic Missiles (the DF-26) have a range of around 3-4000km, depending on the payload. They are based on mobile, wheeled TELs (Transporter/Erector/Launcher) vehicles and can carry a nuclear or powerful conventional warhead (probably 600kg to 1000kg) and are accurate to within 100m.

    That puts Auckland well within the range of these weapons.

    It makes the use of a nuclear weapon against us possible, since China's strategic weapons (SLBMs and ICBMs) are too valuable to expend on a secondary target like NZ but we would be "suitable" for such a medium ranged weapon.

    If we want our ramparts to remain the sea, we need to think about what it takes to keep our potential enemies as far away as possible.

  12. Mike the Lefty 12
    18 July 2023 at 11:46 am

    It is hard to turn down the obvious cash handouts and benefits that always come when China wants to establish a base on some neglected Pacific atoll. But perhaps they will come to regret their decision after their fishing grounds are wiped out by Chinese fishing fleets.

  13. Flitchy 13
    18 July 2023 at 2:41 pm

    The old goose and dander scenario but well as we know US hegemony is a winner takeall no matter the cost

    Time we grew up the pacific aint your bitch no more uncle Sam

    You the French the English have polluted the place with your nukes yet have we heard of China doing it yet but your territory of Japan is quite happy to dump nuclear waste in the pacific ocean

    I think we are looking at this a bit skewed chippy

  14. SPC 14
    18 July 2023 at 2:44 pm

    It's the settling down period after the end of recognition of Taiwan as a nation independent of China, thus establishing relations with Beijing.

    China tends to offer favours to such nations to "establish hegemony/encourage dependency" – as of course the West does with foreign aid, but "we do it" because of "our altruism".

    The favour this time includes, policing assistance – as one of the former rulers of one of the islands, a Christian, opposed any connection with atheist China and some of his supporters cause problems in the capital. The person concerned was removed from office earlier in the year, but is challenging this in the courts.

    Basically the Solomon Islands is a very third world nation, dependent on others to progress. And it's only bargaining chip is leveraging the confrontation over Taiwan's future for advantage.

  15. Ad 15
    18 July 2023 at 8:46 pm

    Just in case anyone missed the raw greed of Sogovare, we have him in his own words straight after he stepped off the plane from China, saying the decision of its "traditional donors" to pull funding support had pushed Solomon Islands to lean on China, who agreed to "fill the gap".

    "Some of our donor partners who have committed to providing budget support to us this year have since changed their position and delayed their assistance for us and we are struggling to finance the 2023 budget," he said.

    "This has left this country and people in a predicament. But I am delighted to announce, the People's Republic of China has really stepped up to provide this budget support needed for 2023."

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/493931/nz-govt-says-it-honoured-commitments-to-solomon-islands-rejects-sogavare-s-claims

    This is of course straight lies from Sogovare.

    In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) denied the Australian government had backtracked on any formal commitments.

    "Australia has delivered on our budget support commitments to Solomon Islands this year," a DFAT spokesperson said.

    "This support has been provided across numerous sectors in Solomon Islands including health, education and elections," they said.

    "We continue to discuss development and budget support needs with the Solomon Islands government."

    Australia has announced several tranches of direct support in the past two years, including $25 million for running elections in 2024, and almost $17 million for the Pacific Games.

    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-17/solomon-islands-pm-says-china-filled-gap-left-by-aus-nz/102609050

    New Zealand did the same.

    Sogovare just wants to play us.

    Clearly the Solomon Islands want to be recolonised.

    • Dennis Frank 15.1
      19 July 2023 at 5:46 am

      Govt of Aotearoa ought to be in liaison with the political opposition there & aussies also, & keep in touch with public opinion there. China will be assessed for the quality or lack in regard to their contribution…

      • SPC 15.1.1
        20 July 2023 at 12:19 am

        Really, should foreign governments be liasing with NACT here? Reporting on the local situation is best left to politically neutral diplomats.

    • SPC 15.2
      20 July 2023 at 12:23 am

      Playing the jealous ex/aid donor is not smart diplomacy.

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    David Farrar writes  –  1 News reports: Christopher Luxon says he was told by some Kiwis on the campaign trail they “didn’t know” the difference between Waka Kotahi, Te Pūkenga and Te Whatu Ora. Speaking to Breakfast, the incoming prime minister said having English first on government agencies will “make sure” ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Top 10 at 10 am for Thursday, Nov 30
    There are fears that mooted changes to building consent liability could end up driving the building industry into an uninsured hole. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Here’s my pick of the top 10 news and analysis links elsewhere as of 10 am on Thursday, November 30, including:The new Government’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on how climate change threatens cricket‘s future
    Well that didn’t last long, did it? Mere days after taking on what he called the “awesome responsibility” of being Prime Minister, M Christopher Luxon has started blaming everyone else, and complaining that he has inherited “economic vandalism on an unprecedented scale” – which is how most of us are ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    5 days ago

  • We need to talk about Tory.
    The first I knew of the news about Tory Whanau was when a tweet came up in my feed.The sort of tweet that makes you question humanity, or at least why you bother with Twitter. Which is increasingly a cesspit of vile inhabitants who lurk spreading negativity, hate, and every ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • Dangling Transport Solutions
    Cable Cars, Gondolas, Ropeways and Aerial Trams are all names for essentially the same technology and the world’s biggest maker of them are here to sell them as an public transport solution. Stuff reports: Austrian cable car company Doppelmayr has launched its case for adding aerial cable cars to New ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    5 days ago

  • November AMA
    Hi,It’s been awhile since I’ve done an Ask-Me-Anything on here, so today’s the day. Ask anything you like in the comments section, and I’ll be checking in today and tomorrow to answer.Leave a commentNext week I’ll be giving away a bunch of these Mister Organ blu-rays for readers in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago

  • National’s early moves adding to cost of living pressure
    The cost of living grind continues, and the economic and inflation honeymoon is over before it began. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: PM Christopher Luxon unveiled his 100 day plan yesterday with an avowed focus of reducing cost-of-living pressures, but his Government’s initial moves and promises are actually elevating ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • Backwards to the future
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has confirmed that it will be back to the future on planning legislation. This will be just one of a number of moves which will see the new government go backwards as it repeals and cost-cuts its way into power. They will completely repeal one ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago

  • New initiatives in science and technology could point the way ahead for Luxon government
    As the new government settles into the Beehive, expectations are high that it can sort out some  of  the  economic issues  confronting  New Zealand. It may take time for some new  ministers to get to grips with the range of their portfolio work and responsibilities before they can launch the  changes that  ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    6 days ago

  • Treaty pledge to secure funding is contentious – but is Peters being pursued by a lynch mob after ...
    TV3 political editor Jenna Lynch was among the corps of political reporters who bridled, when Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters told them what he thinks of them (which is not much). She was unabashed about letting her audience know she had bridled. More usefully, she drew attention to something which ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • How long does this last?
    I have a clear memory of every election since 1969 in this plucky little nation of ours. I swear I cannot recall a single one where the question being asked repeatedly in the first week of the new government was: how long do you reckon they’ll last? And that includes all ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago

  • National’s giveaway politics
    We already know that national plans to boost smoking rates to collect more tobacco tax so they can give huge tax-cuts to mega-landlords. But this morning that policy got even more obscene - because it turns out that the tax cut is retrospective: Residential landlords will be able to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • CHRIS TROTTER: Who’s driving the right-wing bus?
    Who’s At The Wheel? The electorate’s message, as aggregated in the polling booths on 14 October, turned out to be a conservative political agenda stronger than anything New Zealand has seen in five decades. In 1975, Bill Rowling was run over by just one bus, with Rob Muldoon at the wheel. In 2023, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • GRAHAM ADAMS:  Media knives flashing for Luxon’s government
    The fear and loathing among legacy journalists is astonishing Graham Adams writes – No one is going to die wondering how some of the nation’s most influential journalists personally view the new National-led government. It has become abundantly clear within a few days of the coalition agreements ...
    Point of OrderBy gadams1000
    6 days ago

  • Top 10 news links for Wednesday, Nov 29
    TL;DR: Here’s my pick of top 10 news links elsewhere for Wednesday November 29, including:The early return of interest deductibility for landlords could see rebates paid on previous taxes and the cost increase to $3 billion from National’s initial estimate of $2.1 billion, CTU Economist Craig Renney estimated here last ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • Smokefree Fallout and a High Profile Resignation.
    The day after being sworn in the new cabinet met yesterday, to enjoy their honeymoon phase. You remember, that period after a new government takes power where the country, and the media, are optimistic about them, because they haven’t had a chance to stuff anything about yet.Sadly the nuptials complete ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • As Cabinet revs up, building plans go on hold
    Wellington Council hoardings proclaim its preparations for population growth, but around the country councils are putting things on hold in the absence of clear funding pathways for infrastructure, and despite exploding migrant numbers. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Cabinet meets in earnest today to consider the new Government’s 100-day ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • National takes over infrastructure
    Though New Zealand First may have had ambitions to run the infrastructure portfolios, National would seem to have ended up firmly in control of them.  POLITIK has obtained a private memo to members of Infrastructure NZ yesterday, which shows that the peak organisation for infrastructure sees  National MPs Chris ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago

  • At a glance – Evidence for global warming
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    7 days ago

  • Who’s Driving The Right-Wing Bus?
    Who’s At The Wheel? The electorate’s message, as aggregated in the polling booths on 14 October, turned out to be a conservative political agenda stronger than anything New Zealand has seen in five decades. In 1975, Bill Rowling was run over by just one bus, with Rob Muldoon at the wheel. In ...
    Bowalley Road
    7 days ago

  • Sanity break
    Cheers to reader Deane for this quote from Breakfast TV today:Chloe Swarbrick to Brook van Velden re the coalition agreement: “... an unhinged grab-bag of hot takes from your drunk uncle at Christmas”Cheers also to actual Prime Minister of a country Christopher Luxon for dorking up his swearing-in vows.But that's enough ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    7 days ago

  • Sanity break
    Cheers to reader Deane for this quote from Breakfast TV today:Chloe Swarbrick to Brook van Velden re the coalition agreement: “... an unhinged grab-bag of hot takes from your drunk uncle at Christmas”Cheers also to actual Prime Minister of a country Christopher Luxon for dorking up his swearing-in vows.But that's enough ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    7 days ago

  • National’s murderous smoking policy
    One of the big underlying problems in our political system is the prevalence of short-term thinking, most usually seen in the periodic massive infrastructure failures at a local government level caused by them skimping on maintenance to Keep Rates Low. But the new government has given us a new example, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    7 days ago

  • NZ has a chance to rise again as our new government gets spending under control
    New Zealand has  a chance  to  rise  again. Under the  previous  government, the  number of New Zealanders below the poverty line was increasing  year by year. The Luxon-led government  must reverse that trend – and set about stabilising  the  pillars  of the economy. After the  mismanagement  of the outgoing government created   huge ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    7 days ago

  • KARL DU FRESNE: Media and the new government
    Two articles by Karl du Fresne bring media coverage of the new government into considerations.  He writes –    Tuesday, November 28, 2023 The left-wing media needed a line of attack, and they found one The left-wing media pack wasted no time identifying the new government’s weakest point. Seething over ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 days ago

  • PHILIP CRUMP:  Team of rivals – a CEO approach to government leadership
    The work begins Philip Crump wrote this article ahead of the new government being sworn in yesterday – Later today the new National-led coalition government will be sworn in, and the hard work begins. At the core of government will be three men – each a leader ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 days ago

  • Black Friday
    As everyone who watches television or is on the mailing list for any of our major stores will confirm, “Black Friday” has become the longest running commercial extravaganza and celebration in our history. Although its origins are obscure (presumably dreamt up by American salesmen a few years ago), it has ...
    Bryan GouldBy Bryan Gould
    7 days ago

  • In Defense of the Media.
    Yesterday the Ministers in the next government were sworn in by our Governor General. A day of tradition and ceremony, of decorum and respect. Usually.But yesterday Winston Peters, the incoming Deputy Prime Minister, and Foreign Minister, of our nation used it, as he did with the signing of the coalition ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago

  • Top 10 news links at 10 am for Tuesday, Nov 28
    Nicola Willis’ first move was ‘spilling the tea’ on what she called the ‘sobering’ state of the nation’s books, but she had better be able to back that up in the HYEFU. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Here’s my pick of top 10 news links elsewhere at 10 am ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 days ago

  • PT use up but fare increases coming
    Yesterday Auckland Transport were celebrating, as the most recent Sunday was the busiest Sunday they’ve ever had. That’s a great outcome and I’m sure the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    1 week ago

  • The very opposite of social investment
    Nicola Willis (in blue) at the signing of the coalition agreement, before being sworn in as both Finance Minister and Social Investment Minister. National’s plan to unwind anti-smoking measures will benefit her in the first role, but how does it stack up from a social investment viewpoint? Photo: Lynn Grieveson ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • Giving Tuesday
    For the first time "in history" we decided to jump on the "Giving Tuesday" bandwagon in order to make you aware of the options you have to contribute to our work! Projects supported by Skeptical Science Inc. Skeptical Science Skeptical Science is an all-volunteer organization but ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • Let's open the books with Nicotine Willis
    Let’s say it’s 1984,and there's a dreary little nation at the bottom of the Pacific whose name rhymes with New Zealand,and they've just had an election.Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, will you look at the state of these books we’ve opened,cries the incoming government, will you look at all this mountain ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago

  • Climate Change: Stopping oil
    National is promising to bring back offshore oil and gas drilling. Naturally, the Greens have organised a petition campaign to try and stop them. You should sign it - every little bit helps, and as the struggle over mining conservation land showed, even National can be deterred if enough people ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago

  • Don’t accept Human Rights Commission reading of data on Treaty partnership – read the survey fin...
    Wellington is braced for a “massive impact’ from the new government’s cutting public service jobs, The Post somewhat grimly reported today. Expectations of an economic and social jolt are based on the National-Act coalition agreement to cut public service numbers in each government agency in a cost-trimming exercise  “informed by” head ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 week ago

  • New Zealand welcomes European Parliament vote on the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement
    A significant milestone in ratifying the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was reached last night, with 524 of the 705 member European Parliament voting in favour to approve the agreement. “I’m delighted to hear of the successful vote to approve the NZ-EU FTA in the European Parliament overnight. This is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Further humanitarian support for Gaza, the West Bank and Israel
    The Government is contributing a further $5 million to support the response to urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel, bringing New Zealand’s total contribution to the humanitarian response so far to $10 million. “New Zealand is deeply saddened by the loss of civilian life and the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

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