Kiwis told to help, not criticise
www.fijitimes.com - Friday, January 26, 2007
NEW Zealand was yesterday urged to be more supportive and less critical of the problems faced by troubled Pacific island countries such as Fiji.
New Zealand Pacific Business Council board member Mike Flanagan also urged the New Zealand media to take a more active role in reporting on a broader range of issues in the Pacific and not just bad news.
The New Zealand Pacific Business Council facilitates trade between New Zealand and Pacific nations.
New Zealand exports goods worth more than $NZ1billion ($1.176billion) to 23 Pacific islands.
Almost half the sum is from Fiji, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Tonga.
Mr Flanagan said it was seldom that the geopolitical and economic reality of the crisis in the Pacific and their likely consequences were reported.
He said New Zealand and Australia should reconsider its uncompromising stand with Fiji, as the victim of any censure is the general population.
Mr Flanagan said the latest developments from Fiji indicated a welcome step back to a constitutional government.
"It appears that in Fiji, as in Tonga, the Pacific way is the preferable way to resolve disputes."
