BARACK OBAMA SAYS THANKYOU

Should he win the USA presidency - HOW WILL HE IMPACT THE PACIFIC?

In 2005 online forum friends persuaded me to listen to Obama's speech given at Knox College. He was impressive even then as an unknown. Often there were online forum debates over his suitability and possible likelihood of becoming the 1st black president. Since about mid 2006 he has become a global household name and I often wondered why Condolezza Rice never threw herself in at the forefront of the Republican race as the answer to the Obama-Clinton battle for first place as 1st black and 1st woman to gain the position as front runner and possibly presidency.
Certainly his background as an Hawaiian raised young person and the overwhelming support he received from Hawaii, American Samoa and Guam is indicative of the claim that Pacific peoples have made of him as their own. CHANGE that is positive in terms of uplifting the social health of Pacific peoples not only within America but in and around the Pacific may have a significant impact upon the loyalty that many Pacific island nations are now slowly directing toward Asia. The shift in global political power toward China and Europe may not necessarily be in the long term interests of the Pacific. While the USA may have directed too much attention toward the war in Iraq and that of anti-terrorism, it's political beliefs in fairness and democracy is what makes USA a nation that can be called to account for some of its wrong doings. I am not so sure when I deliberately avoid buying foodstuffs or cosmetics from China or other East European countries that the same standards would be open to examination. Barack Obama has won the first part of the political race. I wonder though if the rest of white America will allow the Republican's to lose and allow minority groups to gain the advantage of limelight and all other benefits and freedoms that might follow.

CLYDESDALE REPORT

Now the dust has settled somewhat and Dr Clydesdale has succeeded in gaining the attention he probably hoped his research might gain but without the media and political negativity it has received. Many of the comments from some the Pacific community and a few other non Pacific academics have labelled the research -lazy - out of date - racist - wanting - and not a true reflection of the achievements that have occurred within the Pacific immigrant population. But should the focus of all academic research be written in a style that is politically correct and in praise of the positive achievements of the population being researched or should it be concerned solely with passing the rigorous tests that are set by the academic discipline it resides within. Is there a duty on the part of the researcher to ensure it does not offend the community or even politicians who believe they have done much to bring about a balance for those less fortunate in our society. Was that Dr Clydesdale's responsibility?
Having read the report, it is easy to get bogged down with references about the emerging underclass of unskilled immigrants. The main thrust of the report points to immigration as a strategy that the nation can no longer depend upon to grow the economy. Clydesdale's research is economically driven and while it largely ignores many social aspects of the New Zealand immigrant community, the purpose of Clydesdale's report is to evaluate human immigration in monetary terms and therefore the reference to humans as human capital is consistent with that goal. I have read comments that identify Clydesdale's reference to 'human capital' as scholastically deplorable. I find the very reference to humans as resources often manipulated by massive HR departments as equally loathesome given humans in that context exist only to further the strategic goals of many large companies.

The findings of any academic research should always be open to scholarly and public scrutiny. Comments from the public and articles by Tapu Misa published in the New Zealand Herald contribute to a more informed debate around the shortcomings or indeed the insightfulness of such research. I do however have concerns when the governing political machinery believe that it is within their ambit of influence to manoeuver it's resources in such way to counter academic research that does not promote the political agenda of the day. Paul Hansen and Paul Callister both state that their responses were politically driven to counter the bad press caused by Clydesdale's report. While I accept that Clydesdale's report is wanting in many respects, and it is certainly not a reflection of Massey University itself as Tuitahi pointed out through the media, his research nonetheless deserves to be responded to in a manner that allows for scholarly due process to take it's course unhindered by political interference. And that it didn't, bothers me.
If anything Clydesdale's research only serves to reinforce the importance of Pacific initiatives so as to reduce the huge economic disadvantages that many Pacific people will continue to experience as the global food shortage rises alongside oil/petrol costs, increasing unemployment and greater stress on Pacific families to cope with incomes that will not match rising costs. And that for me moves into the realm of very real concern.

GET WELL SOON MAYOR LEN BROWN

All the best to Mayor Len Brown - I too am praying for his speedy recovery.

Mary Anne Thompson and Pacific Fallout

I have deliberately held off on commenting more on the Mary Anne Thompson saga. One because of the links she had with building Pacific public service professionalism and secondly because I know some of the personalities involved in what appears to be even bigger than the media reports of Taito's alleged immigration 'wheeling & dealing' for some in his community. Strangely, I remember when underground murmurings in the migrant community were popularly rumoured with Taito as the man who helped 'the illegal underdog". I often listened to friends and family refer to Taito as a "good man" to fear stricken over-staying illegal residents. Now as Taito heads off to face the allegations against him in court, he is now one who many believe ought to be shunned. Human compassion can be so expensive. In his case the issues are far more complex.
Similar issues occur again in the Mary Anne Thompson affair. Yes her dishonesty around the non existence of a PHD qualification she claimed as an achievement, deserves the current attention she is getting - but the real losers here are the Pacific community. Once again Pacific people are portrayed as incapable of dealing with great responsibility because of all sorts of pressures - not only internally within the public service but also from friends and family who may perceive some Pacific high risers as all powerful. Unless we are trained to focus on codes of conduct and ethics above the strong arm of our personal cultural environments we will succumb to pressure and take the broad hopes of our communities down with us. That to me is the fallout upon Pacific communities when Pacific leaders do not abide by the rules.
Technorati Profile

CONGRATULATIONS - JOSEPHINE BARTLEY

Labour has another Pacific candidate added to their lineup and standing in Tamaki. Anyone who has met Josephine knows that she is hard working, committed and really cares about improving the negative statistics for the Pacific community. While I am surprised that Josephine's calling is in this direction, she nonetheless deserves to be elected. And when that happens I will miss her dedicated emails (over the last five years) from the PACIFICA news desk advising all active and inactive members of important events in the Pacific community. All the best to Josephine Bartley as she steps out into campaigning territory for the 2008 election.

CONGRATULATIONS - MAGILA ANNANDALE

Good news- Magila Annandale is confirmed as the new Director of Communications and Relationships at the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs (MPIA). A changing of the guard at the helm appears to have resulted in new blood being appointed to a number of positions at the MPIA. Magila has a fine track record in delivering a number of government related projects. I remember her well in my university days at Victoria as one who was always meticulously groomed and who was never short on delivering her opinions. Congratulations to Magila and to MPIA for appointing a Pacific 'fire starter'.

Pacific Family Obligations & Public Service Rules of Conduct

MP Philip Field faces trial on counts of bribery and corruption and all the while another prominent public servant Dr Thompson along with others in the Immigration Service are facing an investigation over their roles in the processing of residency applications of some of Dr Thompson's family members. Sadly I think MP Philip Field's days are numbered - he was left out in the cold a long time ago and his recovery rate before the 2008 election will be zilch. But it does little better for the members of the Immigration Service who must now answer questions about why some applications that were processed were given priority over others. Mr Field's court room drama's will now overshadow any other dodgy questions that might embarrass the Service.

I have been wondering why Pacific people continually face problems with divided loyalty issues to family demands / cultural obligations and public service codes of conduct. But a days thinking has brought me to the realisation that these issues plague us all. I have heard of old school boy associations giving special treatment to children of associates and so on, we do it all the time, we try to influence others to give us special treatment. The difference however is that when in public service - it probably is better to tell all concerned of your connections and leave it at that. Human nature is a funny thing. Without being asked to do so, we usually give special priority to those who may pull at our heart strings, because of some narrow connection or because a person reminds one of another close link. In Dr Thompson's case she ought to have publicly revealed her special relationship to the applicants and left it to others in the Department to deal with it through the normal channels.

As more Pacific people move into the upper echelons of public service - there is the realisation that codes of conduct are culturally neutral because the obligation of Pacific public servants is first and foremost to the state and the public it serves.

1st Maori PHD in Art History Reinstated

At a time when the history and heritage of Aotearoa is being preserved, the reinstatement of New Zealand's first Maori PHD graduate in Art History at the University of Auckland is of course a triumph in that field of scholarship but also highlights unfair dealings led to his redundancy. The NZ Herald reports on Dr Rangihiroa Panoho.

SAMOA PROTESTS AGAINST Right Hand Drive Change

Samoa has spoken against the proposed changes made to changing road rules in a 20,000 strong protest march this week. What will the Samoan government do. I recall watching an hilarious debate last year between PM Tuilaepa and Toleafoa Toailoa about the pros and cons of changing to the right hand side of the road.
I remember Toailoa back in my university days - he was the only Samoan married student on campus, a diligent student and a talented musician, and then I discovered he was also known as Romero. How time moves on ..., now he's at the forefront of the anti- RHD protests.
Which ever way the government wind blows on this issue - it cannot ignore the 20,000 voices that marched this week in Samoa. For my opinion - I would say leave things as they are. What is there to be gained from changing the road rules but more expense to the general population in Samoa. Anyway the US dollar will continue to fall so Samoa will still benefit in the long run.

CONDOLENCES - ELIM CHRISTIAN COLLEGE

Six students and one teacher died yesterday while on a school outdoors trip in Tongariro. What a tragedy to wake up to news like that this morning? Some young people of the Manurewa Assembly of God church I attend are students of that school. So it was with a lot of faith and hope that I waited not to hear their names released over the airwaves and thankfully so as well.

Death is not an easy thing to accept. But I take heart from the strong faith and hope of the Elim College community in God which makes the possibility of despair in a situation like this redundant. School staff, the Principal and their supporters have provided sensible support to their community in allowing them to grieve openly on the school grounds. Mayor Len Brown was on hand for most of the day at the school providing support to the school community and has even offered the Telstra Pacific Events Centre free of charge should it become necessary for a bigger venue. Praise the Lord for Mayor Len Brown. My prayers go out to all of the Elim College staff and students and family members of those who are now in the presence of the Lord.

John 14:18 No, I will not abandon you or leave you as orphans in the storm-I will come to you.

BOB THE BUILDER - CLARKSON yells "Pay The Bill'

As I read the NZ Herald this morning, I developed a distaste for Bob Clarkson who was reported to have kept yelling 'pay the bill' while Luamanuvao Winnie Laban delivered a speech yesterday on the importance of new legislation to prevent another Muliaga incident from occurring again. He did apologise for his outbursts, but it has clearly left a sour taste in my mouth toward that MP and it has not sweetened through out the day. I have similar emotions toward James Coleman on TV3 Sunrise - I don't watch Sunrise because of Coleman's heartless response about the cause of Mrs Muliaga's death last year. If I mistakenly switch the channel to TV3 and catch Coleman, I am reminded of his cold talk back sessions about a poor defenceless corpse Mrs Muliaga and her children who were tormented by her death and the loss of their mother.
For me- both occasions were more than attempts at taking an anti-pacific stance, it was an anti-humane position. What hope is there for minority groups with personalities like that at the fore front of our society. They need to be shut down. The Dawn Raids against Pacific peoples ended in the 1970s. This is the age of Pasifika enlightenment. Auckland celebrates Pasifika month in March. So get with it Clarkson or get lost. And TV3 how about a male presenter like Paul Henry or even a Pacific one - one who believes in the sacredness of life.

MANGERE - NATIONAL CANDIDATE

So the lovely Mita Harris has been selected for Mangere. While I am glad he has won favour again for his loyalty to the party, why on earth allow him to suffer a candidate suicidal experience there. Mangere is a Pacific peoples stomping ground - for second and third generation grandchildren of the original Pacific settlers. Since David Lange a candidate who does not have Pacific heritage has no hope of success in a campaign there. I did hear that Enosa Auva'a threw his oar into the blend for Mangere and he would have been more appropriate. There will be no battle for Mangere at election time. Right now it is securely in the hands of Labour's Su'a William Sio who has demonstrated at a local level that he is more than capable of handling the bigger tasks. Recently I listened to him asking Luamanuvao Winnie Laban a few of those contrived questions that party members ask each other when the answer is always a given "yes we did well". There is no doubt that in time Su'a will surpass Luamanuvao in party rankings who I think lacks that ground breaking presence and punch that we all hope our Pacific candidates will have at the national level.
Back to Mita Harris - I hope National has signed up a large loyal group of Pacific party members to support this young man in his campaign because clearly he will need it. Campaigning life in foreign territory can be very lonely and expensive.

Free Trade Agreement - PACIFIC IMPACT

The New Zealand signing of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with China has many positive spinoffs for exporters and others doing business with China. At its most basic level it means that I will pay less for products (hopefully other than the $2 shop) where tariffs have been lifted. While the battle rages over China's hold over Tibet and much media attention is being diverted toward high anxiety levels being expressed over the Olympic torch travels through Europe to the Beijing Olympics, there is another issue closer to home that has got me thinking.

How do the Pacific Island nation states feel about the FTA? The Pacific Islands have been slowly developing closer ties with China and other Asian nations and were poised to use it as a tactical ploy whenever any Pacific Island nation was dis-satisfied with their treatment from NZ and Australia. The FTA now sends out messages to the Pacific region that NZ's special relationship with China also means NZ may also have a heavier hand in Pacific affairs because it has a strong economic ally in China. It will be interesting to watch our astute Pacific neighbours respond to this new historic FTA relationship between NZ and China. Conversely should China now decide to take an abhorrent stance on a sensitive issue that may cause global concern - what will NZ do? - revoke the FTA under global pressure!! we don't know - these are all difficult scenarios that are open to imagination when dealing with a country that is silent on many issues.
Prime Minister Helen Clark has much to be proud of and NZ has much to gain from it.

CONGRATULATIONS Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga

I had just finished writing up my last blog piece when I discovered that Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga had won the National nomination for Maungakiekie. I don't need to say much more at this point other than, I believe he will secure the Maungakiekie seat in the 2008 election. Congratulations Peseta - well done. Another Pacific candidate takes the stage - great news.

THINKING ALOUD - GOOD LUCK TO ALL PACIFIC POLITICAL CANDIDATES 2008

While I make no secret that I lean more to the right politically for all sorts of christian reasons, I also like to support Pacific candidates from all sides of the spectrum simply because we share a common point of origin - the Pacific. My prediction this year is that Sua William Sio will win the Mangere electorate. Labour have moved smartly and quickly to cement it's position in Mangere with Sua being sworn in as MP this week, that sends a loud and clear message that it means to secure the Mangere seat without any real battle. Had that not occurred then Taito might have won that seat hand downs. The only difficulty here is that there may still be strong local Mangere Pacific views that Sua is not a Mangere 'boy' but rather an Otara homie bred.
The Destiny - Family Party contender Mr Filipaina has been out in the Mangere stomping ground for some months now gathering support for himself and his work has not gone un-noticed. There is however one other Pacific contender who may have been able to gouge Mangere from Labour and that would have been Peseta Sam Lotu Iiga. Winning the Maungakiekie local body elections I'iga has shown that he has the determination and dedication to truly win a community over. Another possible Pacific contender from the right is Enosa Auva'a, school principal and a previous National candidate for the Manurewa electorate. Should Auva'a stand this year, he at least has the experience and support of the Pacific community to promote our issues loudly and clearly.
No matter which side of the political spectrum any of these Pacific candidates might stand, they are nonetheless worthy Pacific candidates. I wish them all well should any or all of them stand in an electorate for this 2008 election year.

CONGRATULATIONS - SUA WILLIAM SIO

Wonderful news for the Pacific community now that another Pacific person Sua William Sio has been sworn in as MP for the Labour Party. The Tagata Pasifika community has gained another channel to promote their issues at a national level. Well done Sua. Like the Hon Tau Henare, this new Labour MP is no ordinary MP, he also - is a brother from the back blocks of Otara.

TAGATA PASIFIKA - RELIGION AND PACIFIC PEOPLES

POSTCARD - CEREMONIAL GATHERING IN SAMOA (early 1900s)

I love this postcard. It conjures up pictures of old Samoa, from storytelling sessions my father shared with me of historical events of his time. He always referred to the sacredness of life and of God. He often reminded me of the sacred tie between parents and children and the changing roles of parent and child. That was how he ordered the universe for me. Always - always was the central focus of God and his acceptance that Samoan culture was ordered along God given lines of accountability based on respect, reciprocity and relationships.
As I watched Tagata Pasifika on Thursday evening, a panel of prominent Pacific people discussed the relevance of church, trading hours and young Pacific people moving away from the traditional Pacific churches to the more pentecostal forms of worship. I was amazed at how our traditional Pacific clergy are so defensive about their denominational faith and that newer established churches were dismissively referred to as "that or those churches" as if such churches were too modern to be accepted as serious christian affiliation.
Like everything else, youth move to where it's more relevant. So also with youth moving in ever increasing numbers to more pentecostal churches. Not because more traditional churches are wrong, NO - but there is a movement toward seeking the relevant message for everyday life.
Sadly there appears to be a declining number of young members attending mainstream Pacific churches. Today fewer Pacific parents practice Sunday as a day of rest. How much harder it is to preserve Easter weekends as sacred? I always marvel at my Muslim friends who answer to no one when prayer vigils for Ramadan or other occasions are required. How much more will our loss of the sacred also contribute to losing our souls? In the mean time let's remember that mental unwellness is at an all time high.

PASIFIKA - WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO PACIFIC PEOPLES?

by Vinepa Aiono

1923 -British Samoa (postcard)
Life in a 'fale' such as that pictured in this old postcard has changed for many Pacific people. For others who settled in Aotearoa New Zealand from the 1940s and who now are survived by their second, third and fourth generation descendants, such a home would be viewed as idyllic and sadly today a tourist experience that one pays for. In November 2003 my sister Pou, Karen Palupe and I developed 'Pacific Woman's Month' with the assistance of Manukau City Council and a citation was issued by Sir Barry Curtis in honour of our Pacific Woman of The Year. In 2004 we moved the Pacific celebration of women to March and renamed it PACIFIC PEOPLES MONTH to coincide with the Pasifika festival and the Polyfest that was held in the same month. Oddly enough the great powers of Auckland introduced Celebrate Pasifika in 2005 and while others might claim that it was their novel idea, we can sincerely claim that the month long celebration of things Pacific was first made public by 1st PACIFIC. Now don't think you've entered the complaints corner, let's just say revisionist history likes stating the truth. I like to entertain the notion that all good Pacific ideas come from south Auckland .., and ain't that the truth!!!

We can now safely claim that Tagata Pasifika (refer Wikipedia) is a reference to Pacific peoples and/or their descendants who have made Aotearoa New Zealand their home. Although genealogical connections may exist with one or many of the islands scattered through out the Pacific Ocean, Tagata Pasifika are unique in their claim of Aotearoa New Zealand as their homeland. Celebrating 'things Pacific' represents an acknowledgement of the special relationship that New Zealand has with the Pacific region and the necessity to continue working in partnership with Tagata Pasifika to improve the socio-economic, socio-cultural and socio-political statistics of the emerging Tagata Pasifika youth population.

Celebrating Pasifika is more than bright colours, frangipani prints or coconut splashed bodies performing on stage. It is also a month for Pacific people's to truly assess themselves against the rest of the nation and to strategise how to become leaders in all spheres of Aotearoa New Zealand. This is home.

MANUREWA - "PRAYER" THE ANSWER TO VIOLENT CRIME

Perhaps it was the last Sunday in January 2008 that I attended the evening church service at Manurewa AOG, when the Pastor announced that the Lord had placed a burden upon his heart that afternoon. The burden he explained was the concern that the Lord had for the recent incidents in Manurewa where a young man was shot in a local Manurewa store by a youth and another youth caught tagging on a local fence was stabbed by a middle aged local adult for doing so. In a small suburb like Manurewa, such events cause nationwide disturbance. The pastor proceeded to read a passage from the Bible as follows;

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land". (King James Bible)

and then asked members to come up to the front and read the verse in segments and then pray as the Lord led them with specific reference to the Manurewa community. It was a powerful time of prayer for Manurewa.
I came away wondering about what healing would then begin to happen in Manurewa. I wondered if the many families in the community needed God. I didn't have to wait long. Many churches in Manurewa have gotton together and with the support of Mayor Len Brown and Deputy Mayor Sua Sio - an all night prayer vigil shall take place at Manurewa Central school this Friday 22nd February 2008.

Lets see how events unravel in Manurew after the next few months if we keep praying. The prayer of a righteous person availeth much - I believe that.

MANUREWA - Crime & Policing

by Vinepa Aiono (copied from article written on www.1stpacific.co.nz website)

There's a lot of nonsense being heralded about the place that more police on the streets would lower crime. That police are needed to patrol and respond to any crisis within the community is essential. We have suffered already from silly 'call out' responses from the police call centre that led to the death of a young woman some years ago in west Auckland. But we need more intelligent discussion in this area around policing. Many would argue that the presence of more police would lower the crime rate. It doesn't. For example the fight against obesity isn't won by making fruits more available in the western world. Similarly the fight against crime needs to be won within the conscience of a community and sadly it begins in the home - the place many of us refer to as the basic unit for all life - the family.

Attitudes, values, our culturalisms are what will lower the crime rate. We need to encourage our communities to take first responsibility with those we bring into the world as well as others less fortunate than ourselves. How is it that a multitude of young people can gather over 4 days at the Parachute Festival every year and no arrests are made??? Yes we can call it a religious christian thing and dismiss it as simply that. But we need to ask ourselves more seriously about the values that youth at the Parachute Festival have that prevents crime taking place and how we can learn from this.
Family is the best starting point because unless we possess the positive tools to impart pro-social behaviour, we will be raising a nation of misfits who believe it is their right to graffitti their neighbours fence or smash property for the sake of a quick buzz.

Police are required to respond to crises and other incidents where a preventative measure against crime is necessary. But the community must take responsibility for their young and not lose that right to the state. The state can never love our young, the state does not love our youth, the state can say it cares - but I know the difference between being cared for - without being loved. It's like sitting in hospital and being tended to by strangers. The state should only supplement us with services in a crisis situation and in that way support us to raise great citizens for public service.