Thursday, March 05, 2015



Contributing to the international relations and well-being of New Zealand

Tonga too busy to decide on Fiji Forum push, Radio New Zealand International, 5 March 2015:

Tonga's prime minister says his government does not yet have a view on Fiji's push to end New Zealand and Australia's membership in the Pacific Islands Forum.

Fiji has called for this as a pre-condition to it recommitting to the Forum following the lifting of its suspension over the Frank Bainimarama led coup in 2006.

Suva has said New Zealand and Australia, as donors, should not also be members of the regional body.

Akilisi Pohiva, who came to power nine weeks ago, says he is aware Fiji is seeking support from the Polynesian countries but his government is too busy to consider the matter.


Snowden leak spying claims spark diplomatic fallout, Stuff, 5 March 2015:
New Zealand spying on the South Pacific and Tonga is "a breach of trust", Tongan Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva says.

Pohiva was "adamant that this is a breach of trust", the Prime Minister's Department in Nuku'alofa said this morning.

"But it is happening all over the world. Tonga is too small to stand up to the 'alleged spying'," Pohiva said through the official.

"China is on the radar … so what can we do?"


Gee, I wonder...

"Our" spies through their over-reaching and subservience to the US have just pissed off every government in the South Pacific. These governments are our friends, and they think we are theirs. They back us at the UN on that basis, and allow us into their regional forum. That could easily change. The hawks worry about the potential for the South Pacific to re-align itself towards China rather than Australia and New Zealand. The GCSB has just given them an excellent reason for doing so.

Just another example of how "our" spies damage our international relations and reputation rather than advancing them.