New Zealand - The Pacific - Michael Jackson & Swine Flu

by Vinepa Aiono

All in the space of a fortnight, Michael Jackson died and his memorial service is held at the Staples Centre in LA, watched by millions around the world. In the same stretch 3 New Zealanders died of the swine flu, an out of control man is held by the Police for some hours while a Taser is flown in from another part of the country - crazy. The place had gone mad, meanwhile Prime Minister John Key headed off on a trade mission to the South Pacific and announced increased aid to the Pacific over the next few years, he vowed to assist with Tamiflu supplies and when asked which kava or ava he preferred (from Fiji or Samoa) - he found it hard to make a decision and referred to both Pacific nations as 'children'. Such fence sitting is unbecoming let alone 'weak'. Couldn't he just say when in Samoa (or Rome) it tastes the best, when in Fiji likewise ...., no points for wit there.
In between all of this - North Korea was busy silently testing seven of their missiles over the weekend. We all slept quite soundly though in our winter beds.
But the response from Premier Talagi in Niue certainly sums up the new found courage of Pacific leaders toward the west. Premier Talagi left nothing to the democratic imagination when he made it clear that any promised but slow to surface financial assistance would be met with a move on Niue's part to start knocking on China's door. And "ay there's the rub." As an observant relative of mine has informed me, "many building contracts in Samoa do not involve the hiring of local workers, nearly all workers are from China."
The Pacific must beware of seeking aid from the East. What are the real benefits and what might we lose in the longterm. There are vast ideological and cultural differences between the Pacific and China that still make me nervous. I need only remind myself of the contaminated baby milk powder that our giant Fonterra became enmeshed within 2008.
I hope Obama has a better plan for restoring the USA and western world economy because right now job losses are continuing to roll all the way downunder.

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MICHAEL JACKSON - THE KING OF POP HAS DIED

Michael Jackson music was essential to party life for me in the 80s. Nothing could "BEAT IT" back then. The white socks, the black shoes, ankle breezer pants was what I waited for hours to watch when Michael Jackson performed his concert at Mt Smart, Auckland. And I was not let down. I remember the repetitive "I love U" lines he kept flinging out at the audience and for months after that Robbie Rakete and Stephie T would utter such mockery over MAI FM air waves. He truly was and always shall be the KING OF POP.

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MT ALBERT ELECTORATE - 2009 BELONGED TO RAVI MASUKU

Whatever happened to hard working folks earning the right to reap the fruits of their own hard labour. What a big mistake that Ravi Masuku should not be standing in Mt Albert in place of Melissa Lee. Not only do I find her annoyingly anti South Auckland, but she never answers questions with a speck of hope that somewhere there beneath the smart hairdo is also something slightly more astute. Add to that her own self confessed prophecy that she would not win the Mt Albert seat. I can hear the music to the lyrics..."fools rush in where angels fear to tred...."
Poor ol' Ravi Masuku shoved to the back of the bus in Mt Albert so that his hard work over six years would be trampled on by someone who I believe is an idiot. Please no more casting of pearls before ..., after all we are fighting off 'swine flu' in the middle of a recession.

FIJI - An Island Nation In Crisis

by Vinepa Aiono

Should we send in a peace keeping mission or should we leave Fiji to sort out its own affairs. Who are we kidding? Fiji is in crisis. There are so many in the once prosperous island nation of Fiji who are suffering. Do we have a duty to intervene or is the recession such an obstacle that we cannot allow ourselves to exercise more than diplomatic talk sessions to assist Fiji to navigate itself toward a style of island democracy that will set the course for a lifestyle of positive multi-coexistence.
I am shocked over the current comments from our Foreign Affairs office. "There is nothing (NZ) can do but allow Fiji to sort out it's own problems." If we are not careful the political ideology of the East will surely offer Fiji a solution that will mean the end of NZ/Australian influence in the Pacific. And the economic recession is certainly offering our cousins in the East a prime platform to move closer. Tonga has made no secret that it looks to the East for economic assistance, do we all remember the seating arrangements at the funeral of Tonga's last monarch.

Do we have a duty to assist Fiji to steer it's course? I think so. As long as there are citizens suffering in our Pacific backyard, it will always be wrong to ignore that. To do so is political cowardice, a trait that our previous Prime Minister could never be accused of exhibiting. She understood the importance of the Pacific.
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TWITTER

Everyone's doing it. It's fast. It's short. It's often the first thing you think of when you get up in the morning. That's what makes for a TWITTER of a comment. I'm addicted. So are many others. Haven't worked out why yet, but I think the off the cuff comments are what makes for us being such a species of gossips. That's why we enjoy texting. Whether at dinner, a meeting or waiting for an interview, we think nothing is wrong when diverting our attention to sending a return text.
TWITTER is a massive social networking beast that makes the rich and famous so much more familiar if we embark on a twitter fanclub of followers.
Come on join in the tweet tweet! It's far better than facebook or bebo. No fuss for all of us who can't sit still.

PACIFICA WOMENS CONFERENCE

Echoing Barack Obama ..... P.A.C.I.F.I.C.A. are holding a YES WE CAN conference and dinner on the 20th February 2009. Workshops cost $50-00 per person starting 8.30am to 5.00pm at the Pacific Business Trust.
A conference dinner ($55.00 a ticket) will be held in the evening and at the Centra Hotel, Mangere with guest speakers the Hon. Pansy Wong and Hon. Georgina Te Heu Heu.

For more information contact Josephine Bartley 0211205812

PASIFIKA FESTIVAL

Facing cancellation, the Auckland City Council voted in favour of funding the $355,000 shortfall that may have seen the back end of the Pasifika Festival had it been pulled from the cultural landscape if the rescue package did not survive voting ranks. Deputy Mayor David Hay is said to have strongly opposed rescuing the Pasifika Festival and there have been many stern comments from within the Pacific community against Auckland's Deputy Mayor. After all this is recession time and cutbacks are the norm when the national economic purse jangles only coppers, so why the backlash at this time. Our continual focus on public funding to prop up Pacific events that are significant to the Pacific community has got to stop. I'm sure that the Lantern Festival would survive the withdrawal of the public coffers and would be propped up immediately by the Asian business community.
The Pacific business community should be targeted to support the Pasifika Festival as should the Asian business community who have chosen to re-establish themselves in the Pacific Ocean alongside us. This is the time for PasifikAsia alliances to be drawn up and we cannot continue to rely on the government to draft the altering cultural landscape for us. We need only look at the census population figures to note that Pacific population figures are stabilising alongside a strong and growing Asian population. How long can a largely underfunded Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs survive before it becomes absorbed into the Ethnic Affairs portfolio. It's a numbers game. But the Pacific community must become smart, savvy and rethink it's future alliances. If the Pasifika Festival is to survive - stop focussing on the issues, rethink, alter, plan and modify how to recreate the future. The annual school cultural festival held in south Auckland every year has already moved in that direction. No longer the Polynesian Festival it now includes Asian and Middle Eastern dance groups. The Pasifika Festival must do the same. This is the age of PasifikAsia NOT Asia - Pacific and Pacific or Pasifika communities must forge that new identity now before we become subject to change.
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NEW ERA IN WORLD POLITICS - 2009

President Obama has been sworn in, Prime Minister John Key walked into the Ratana day celebrations with the Maori Party and the Gaza strip has been torn apart by Israeli military forces. The global recession has not ended and the impact of globalisation will no longer be restricted solely to the west. Asia has also weathered the recessionary winds. Coupled with bad weather patterns, it would appear that globalisation is being battered by elements beyond human control. What are the lessons for us dependent upon foreign trade, the ever changing exchange rate or indeed the dictatorial fashion trends set by the Euro-western catwalks. Is the answer - a focus upon Internalisation and independence. Looking internally for home grown talent is perhaps the appropriate pathway. Our homing instincts set in when we encounter difficulties, likewise Obama has called all Americans to refocus, regroup, rekindle and respond with what is truly the American "way" given the pressure that America is now experiencing on all its economic, political and social borders.
So far, Prime Minister John Key has made few major changes since coming to power. What we have instead is a new focus and more of a cautionary approach to change. I found it partly amusing but also praiseworthy that the Honourable Paula Bennett, got herself into the middle of a teenage street brawl last week and became the street saviour of west Auckland. Some of the young people interviewed for comment made special mention of Hon Bennett's specific concern for the pale complexion brawlers rather than the darker toned participants. Nonetheless, that was political intervention at its finest. Any MP that can step into a brawling event on the street with the intention of maintaining peace and order - deserves 'national' respect. How appropriate that she is the Minister of Social Development!!!

CONGRATULATIONS - Su'a WIlliam Sio

If anyone deserves to get into parliament, it's Su'a William Sio, one who has worked tirelessly on the ground floor of the Manukau community to raise the awareness at a local and national level of the issues impacting not only for Pacific peoples but across the ethnic specific spectrum.
Su'a will be a great sounding board for promised changes that National may not deliver upon to the community and I suspect a rather seasoned political animal in the "house". Pacific peoples are fortunate to have a Pacific representative not only in government but across the benches to keep the government of the day accountable. All the best to Su'a Wiliam Sio over the next three years as he battles to keep the current government honest.

Congratulations John Key

Congratulations to John Key - the new Prime Minister of New Zealand.

CONGRATULATIONS Peseta Sam Lotu - I'iga

I have said it before that Peseta Sam Lotu - I'iga would win the previously Labour held seat of Maungakiekie - and he is on his way to doing so (well as at 10:42pm). Peseta Sam Lotu - I'iga is the man to watch in the future. I have no doubt that he will one day become the 1st Pasifika Prime Minister of Aotearoa New Zealand. Keeping watching this man - over the next few years as he gains experience in the political realm.

Congratulations once again to Peseta Sam Lotu I'iga.

PRESIDENT OBAMA - AMERICA HAS SPOKEN

I have waited for this victory speech for almost five years. What else is there to say about President Obama other than that he is 'the man' for such a time as this. I love the closing remarks of his victory speech " May God bless you, May God bless America."

This Saturday New Zealand will also vote in a new Prime Minister and I have no doubt that it will be John Key. The polls indicate that New Zealand is also searching for political and spiritual change. No one is really interested in placing faith in trusted historical leadership - the public are searching for new ideas, new personalities and in short something different. I predict that New Zealand will awake on Sunday morning with John Key on the front page of every newspaper as the new Prime Minister of Aotearoa New Zealand. And in that respect I hope that like President Barack Obama - John Key will look to God to bless this nation as well.

OBAMA TO DANCE HIS WAY INTO THE WHITE HOUSE

by Vinepa Aiono



Obama's dance moves on the Ellen Degeneres TV 'talk back' show, has him perfectly poised to waltz into the White House this week. What an exciting year 2008 has been not only for USA but also the rest of the world. While it is true that I am writing as if Obama has already won the USA Presidential race, to deny that he won't is to ignore many of the political polls that place Obama in front of McCain.

If the BBC Doha debates (1 November 2008) are anything to go by, 87% rejected the motion that the Middle East would be better off with McCain at the presidential helm. Obama is perceived as one who will attempt to engage in multi-lateral discussions to sustain peaceful relationships. Whether he has the ability to do so is unknown but there is a general sense that Obama has the ability to rise to any difficult situation. Perhaps it is his sharp intellect, his likeable personality, his exceptional oratory and the fact that he is of a mixed ethnic origin that engenders us to trust him. Obama is different in every respect and the American public have had sufficient time now to absorb a new level of political consciousness that accepts a "black" president as a natural evolving process of the American politics. In that sense - Obama's slogan for "CHANGE" was not simply an attempt to gain victory over the Republican's but a slow and carefully calculated process to change the minds, values and attitudes of the American nation that a Black man could enter the White House.

The negative global economic climate, difficult international relations, the nuclear arms race in Northern Korea and Tehran's Nuclear programme contribute to a general global perception that Obama is a man for this time, where "CHANGE" is essential in the rules around international relations. This week will in Obama's words - "be the defining moment" for America when he becomes the 1st Black President of USA, President Barack Obama sounds normal to me.

AUCKLAND PACIFIC ECONOMIC & SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION CONFERENCE 2008

Today marks the first inaugural Pacific Economic and Social Transformation Conference to be held at the Langham Hotel - Auckland. The conference has been organised by the Pacific Island Chamber of Commerce.
CLICK here for more information.

Hopefully Dr Lockwood Smith may wish to attend and keep his "large manly hands" over his mouth as he listens to many of the Pacific migrant community and descendants of early Pacific settlers, discuss more pressing issues that hamper the Pacific community and that have moved beyond the closeted realms of toilet training (the step above potty training). That Key has opted not to allow him the possibility of holding the Immigration portfolio should National help form the next government is appropriate but that Lockwood Smith might still be there is more painful.

OBAMA & McCAIN ELECTION (DEBATE 1)

by Vinepa AIONO



It may be take another four weeks before the White House will shelter the first black American President and his family. I have been following this extraordinary man for almost five years. No one in the current New Zealand political scene is even remotely comparable to Barack Obama.
With one exception - I believe that Peseta Sam Lotu - I'iga has the makings of one who may one day become the first Pasifika Prime Minister of New Zealand. He shares many qualities in common with Obama.

Watch this 1st 2008 Presidential debate and I'm sure you'll agree that Obama is superb in every respect. He will be the next President of USA.

CONGRATULATIONS - LE-AUFA’AMULIA ASENATI LOLE - TAYLOR

by Vinepa Aiono



This was somewhat late news to me that the NZ First candidate Asenati Lole - Taylor had been pitted against the very able Peseta Sam Lotu I'iga in the battle to take Maungakiekie. Given I have been busy with so many family events as of late - i should be forgiven for not being in "the know" of details from the Pacific cyber-news desk.
Asenati Lole - Taylor has often been heard over the air waves discussing local Pasifika events and issues within the Auckland region. Last I heard, she was the Auckland Pacific Liaison person for the Department of Corrections. Lole - Taylor is extremely vocal on many issues and is perhaps known more for her very forceful but likeable personality that has enabled her to become the Pacific socialite who is found at almost every Pacific event. Peseta on the other hand has the reputation of one who is humble, unassuming, well educated and forthright without seeming brash. Already he has made waves within the Auckland City Council.
While I admire both Lole - Taylor and Peseta for standing in the Maungakiekie seat, my pick is that Peseta will win the seat for National with a comfortable majority. Peseta has the makings of one who may even become the first Pasifika Prime Minister. Watch this space I say.
All the best to Asenati Lole - Taylor, the Pacific community celebrates your continued success.
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CONGRATULATIONS - PAPALI'I TUIFAASISINA POUTOA PAPALI'I

by Vinepa Aiono


Another Pacific candidate takes to pounding the "election pavement" in Manukau East. While I don't know anything about the political party that PAPALI'I TUIFAASISINA POUTOA PAPALI'I is standing for, I can say that I know him, his sister is a dear friend of mine and his family (like mine) is one of the first of the early Pacific settler families of Otara. His family home was a haven for many stray souls of the 60s and 70s who congregated there in Cobham Crescent for shelter, a homework centre, for friendship or just a warm meal. How appropriate that he should stand for the Family Party given the open house at all hours his parents offered to many young people of that time.
I'm sure the Hon. Tau Henare and Sua William Sio, who are also fellow "boys from the hood" and who have gone on to do great things will recall PAPALI'I TUIFAASISINA POUTOA PAPALI'I and the presence of his family in Otara all those years ago. As the saying goes, "The deeper your roots, the taller the tree grows". In this instance I hope the Papali'i family tree is the strongest. All the best to PAPALI'I TUIFAASISINA POUTOA PAPALI'I and hope he does Manukau East proud (but of course I'm only thinking of Otara since my mother still lives there).
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KEKE PUA'A - BEST TASTING

by Vinepa Aiono

You're not a Samoan if you haven't cultivated a taste for Keke Pua'a aka Pork Buns. On a typical hot afternoon my cousin and I used to walk to Pinati's in Apia and buy ten Keke Pua'a each and shamelessly walk home munching on the steamed buns that encased balls of oily pork fried in garlic and onions that trickled down the sides of our mouths. Aaaah!!! anyone who has tasted Keke Pua'a will know that it is the food of the Samoan goddess Nafanua.
Last week a friend and I went seeking Keke Pua'a in south Auckland. We came across Pinati's in Otahuhu. Not real pork but still the best tasting lamb in steamed buns - Keke Mamoe is really what it should be called. I have tried many a Keke Pua'a in south Auckland, some are filled with fatty pork skin, others with diced lamb fat but Pinati's in Otahuhu is truly the best.Technorati Profile

CONFERENCE - PACIFIC ISLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The Pacific Island Chamber of Commerce is holding a conference on the 23rd October 2008 and will focus on Pacific Peoples Economic Development in the region. CLICK HERE for more information on the Pacific Island Chamber of Commerce.Technorati Profile

CONDOLEZZA RICE LANDS IN THE PACIFIC

PHOTO-OLA THORSEN

Referred to as the most powerful woman in the world, and perhaps the only person who may have beaten Barack Obama in the popularity stakes had she chosen to run as a candidate in the USA elections, arrived in New Zealand last night. She stops off in Apia on Sunday to attend the Pacific Islands Forum. What better way is there for USA to light the fires again with New Zealand after the historical nuclear fallout of last century, than for Condolezza Rice to stir up the diplomatic friendship that was for years a "pot of cold soup". Rice's visit is a symbolic message to Asia that USA still has a strong presence in the Pacific. This is a message (despite the Free Trade Agreement with China) that USA is an ancient friend of NZ, the small nation known as for it's Treaty of Friendship with the Pacific. And what better way but for Condolezza Rice to complete her final journey with her last Pacific Islands Forum meeting as second in command to USA President Bush. Is she really the most powerful woman? I think - perhaps the most impressive Black woman in American political history who really should have been the USA president rather than the President's adviser. My dream was to meet her in person.Technorati Profile