The Letter
14 JULY 2003

RECESS – WILL TRAVEL

Parliament is currently in a two-week recess so Helen can indulge in her passion – visiting Europe to talk to Lefties. Nearly half the Cabinet is overseas. After four years of Government, Labour Ministers not accustomed to hard work are feeling bone weary. The holidaying Ministers have left behind the tar baby of Treaty claims.

A LOSE-LOSE DEAL

Government officials are at a loss as to how to deal with the foreshore claim. The Crown’s lawyers believe the Appeal Court’s unanimous decision is undoubtedly correct – British sovereignty did not extinguish Maori customary property rights. Some Maori may own some foreshore and seabed. Legislation, in 2003, to extinguish all Maori property rights to the foreshore and seabed is easier said than achieved. New Zealand has one of the world’s largest foreshores. If 15 percent of the population believes it is their property, who is going to police it? Margaret Wilson’s offer to negotiate raises more problems – negotiate with whom, and over what? Without a court judgement, the Ministers are negotiating in the dark. As the chief justice said, “On the facts, it may be that where the sea was described as the boundary for land sold or in respect of which a vesting order was obtained, an inference can be drawn that the customary interest of the seller or grantee is exhausted.” Radical Maori are now convinced that all foreshore is Maori property. As New Zealand First won all Maori seats in 1996, it may be suicidal for Labour’s Maori MPs to vote for legislation to extinguish the claim.

THE SOLOMONS

Earlier this year, the Australia Strategic Policy Institute – a government-funded, independent foreign policy think-tank – published “Our Failing Neighbour” on the Solomon Islands. The report concludes that the Solomon Islands is a failing state and, as such, is “vulnerable to external influence, (such as) trans-national crime and terrorism; the selling of sovereignty and, ultimately, resorting to the use of mercenaries”. (So far, none of these things are actually happening.) The report went on to say that “If Australia is not robustly engaged in the Solomon Islands, others may fill that space”. The authors then state, “There is a growing recognition of the need to intervene in failing and failed states...while the principle of sovereignty and non-intervention is still the cornerstone of the international system, there has been a change in the concept of sovereignty, and a growing body of thinking about the place of intervention within the international system.” This is a revolutionary doctrine. The Bill being debated in the Solomon’s parliament will, in effect, transfer sovereignty over law and order to a yet unformed intervention force of Australia, New Zealand and Pacific forum nations, for an unspecified time. Control of the Treasury, taxation, customs, and the Central Bank may also be transferred. The sheer fact that a duly elected parliament is even contemplating such a Bill underlines the serious nature of the crisis, and the belief by most Solomon Islanders that their institutions cannot resolve the problems. Our leaders have not told us that this may be a very long and expensive process. The risks of failure are high. What is the exit strategy? The Solomons today, Tonga tomorrow? The report is accessible from ACT’s website http://www.act.org.nz/solomons.

PAID TO JOIN

ACT’s Rodney Hide has revealed that more departments are illegally paying civil servants to join trade unions. DoC is offering staff who join the PSA $737, plus an extra $200 a year for two years. The cost: over $1 million. The Social Development Ministry has paid $2.5 million in extra payments to union members, IRD $1.7 million, Corrections $349,556, Internal Affairs $242,700, and Land and Information $168,436. The Labour Relations Act makes it illegal to discriminate against union or non-union members. Rodney has complained to the Auditor General, who refuses to act. Our membership in the ILO makes this discrimination illegal. The case raises a question over the civil service’s integrity.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT REVOLT

The Clutha District Council has voted to refuse funding to prepare a “Long Term Community Plan”, as required in the new Local Government Act. Councillors point out that the plan, which must ratify “community outcomes”, is meaningless, as there is no requirement to actually do anything. The Clutha Council believes the cost of the plan’s extensive community consultation process will add one or two percent to rates. No doubt, the Auditor-General will be active in prosecuting the democratically elected councillors for the defiance.

ECONOMY SLOWING

The May trade surplus was just four percent. The average surplus for May in the 1990s was 14 percent. Non-agricultural exports were $349 million lower than last year.

ROGERNOMICS KEEPS YOU ALIVE

So-called health researchers have blamed Rogernomics for poor Maori health. On analysis, it appears pakeha New Zealanders are now living 10 years longer than they were 20 years ago. The Letter notes that the health researchers did not welcome this good news, or attribute it to Rogernomics. The reasons for longer life are pakeha are smoking and drinking less, watching their diet and exercising – taking personal responsibility for their lives: Rogernomics. It appears Maori are not. No health researchers pointed out that if Maori applied some Rogernomics to their lives, then they too would benefit – or that state dependency is bad for your health. Instead, these taxpayer-funded researchers advocate the Left universal cure: more state spending.

AN OMEN?

The hotel hosting the National Party conference upgraded Maurice Williamson to the Presidential suite, and the band providing the music was called ‘Vague As’.

ENDS

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