6 May 2009
A Jonah and the whale project, supported by Tongan New Zealand rugby player Jonah Lomu could encourage a whale watching joint venture linking Vava’u, Kaikoura and allied interests.
Jonah Lomu and another Tongan New Zealander, Auckland based Melino Maka, both committed to whale conservation that helps economic development in and around Tonga’s Vava’u Islands, have held planning discussions on possibilities for a Jonah and the whale project.
The NZ Pacific Business Council (NZPBC) is advocating support for the proposed JV-encouragement (JOVE) scheme between the Pacific Islands and New Zealand – and this whale watching idea illustrates the possibilities.
The Tonga New Zealand Business Association (TNZBA) proposed JOVE, and would like NZ government and business support.
NZPBC Auckland based chair Gilbert Ullrich says the scheme is reminiscent of the Pacific Islands Industrial Development Scheme (PIIDS) started by NZ in the 1970s, and which caused successful ventures still in operation.
The JV-encouragement proposal could get on the agenda when Tongan Prime Minister Dr Fred Sevele visits New Zealand in mid May says Mr Maka, NZPBC co-deputy chair. Dr Sevele says he liked the PIIDS scheme and wants to raise JV-encouragement with Prime Minister Key.
NZ Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Murray McCully, in his May 1 2009 speech announcing Government’s “sustainable economic growth mandate” for NZAID said “getting better value for money will call for more co-operation, more teamwork, more creativity, and more focus”.
Earlier, Mr Ullrich told Mr McCully of his support for the JOVE scheme, and NZPBC’s wish that New Zealand increase its commitment to support sustainable economic development projects through NZAID and other government and business agencies.
An April RSE investment seminar, based on the Recognized Seasonal Employment scheme in the Hawkes Bay, is an indicator that seasonal workers in Marlborough and other regions could play a role in developing the sort of joint ventures the JOVE scheme anticipates.
Pousima Afeaki, Tonga based chair of TNZBA says the proposal is that a scheme be established to encourage New Zealand companies to set up joint-ventures in the Pacific.
Afeaki, a commerce graduate from Victoria University of Wellington, former staff member of the Commerce Commission, financial journalist and now a Tongatapu farmer and trader is of Tongan Maori descent with top of the South connections.
The TNZBA says the peoples of New Zealand and the Pacific Islands will mutually benefit from an increase in understanding of cultural similarities and differences through the process of working together in JVs.
For the Pacific Islands, the urgent need is to create jobs through investment in the private-sector. Pacific Island countries do not have money or expertise to do so on their own. TNZBA say the cost is social unrest resulting from the inability to create enough jobs for young and aspiring populations.
In the March 2009 background to the JV-encouragement scheme, the TNZBA said part of New Zealand’s aid to assist developing Pacific Islands is aimed at developing sustainable economic growth. This includes helping the private-sectors in Pacific Island countries to grow and create jobs.
The JOVE proposal “aims to provide an effective way for New Zealand to help the private-sectors of Pacific Island countries grow and create jobs”.
Mr McCully said on 1 May NZAID’s revised mandate “will now require a clear focus on sustainable economic growth as the means by which we seek to improve the lives of our poorer neighbours.”
Objective measures like trade and tourism statistics will be used as the indicators of success or failure over time.
That will require us to pay more than lip service to our support for the fledgling private sectors in developing Pacific nations, through micro-financing schemes and other initiatives that create opportunities for enterprise Mr McCully said.
TNZBA’s Afeaki said in the JOVE proposal “the private sectors of developing Pacific Island countries do not have access to sufficient funding or expertise to make use of the opportunities that exist in areas such as agriculture, fishing, processing of agricultural and marine products, processing of forestry resources, tourism and hospitality”.
New Zealand companies have world-class experience in all of these areas. If offered the right incentives, New Zealand companies would invest in joint-venture operations in the Pacific TNZBA says.
Sydney based Jim Willett, a specialist in small business development who has worked in the Pacific since the 1970s, recommends building on what is there already.
Marlborough interests could build on connections growing through the RSE scheme, Kaikoura Whale Watch, Maori tourism, tour and transport operations to seek a place in the Jonah and the whale project.
Locals might find other opportunities created by the encouragement for NZ Pacific joint ventures in tourism and other sectors.
By Anthony Haas, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
A Jonah and the whale project, supported by Tongan New Zealand rugby player Jonah Lomu could encourage a whale watching joint venture linking Vava’u, Kaikoura and allied interests.Jonah Lomu and another Tongan New Zealander, Auckland based Melino Maka, both committed to whale conservation that helps economic development in and around Tonga’s Vava’u Islands, have held planning discussions on possibilities for a Jonah and the whale project.
The NZ Pacific Business Council (NZPBC) is advocating support for the proposed JV-encouragement (JOVE) scheme between the Pacific Islands and New Zealand – and this whale watching idea illustrates the possibilities.
The Tonga New Zealand Business Association (TNZBA) proposed JOVE, and would like NZ government and business support.
NZPBC Auckland based chair Gilbert Ullrich says the scheme is reminiscent of the Pacific Islands Industrial Development Scheme (PIIDS) started by NZ in the 1970s, and which caused successful ventures still in operation.
The JV-encouragement proposal could get on the agenda when Tongan Prime Minister Dr Fred Sevele visits New Zealand in mid May says Mr Maka, NZPBC co-deputy chair. Dr Sevele says he liked the PIIDS scheme and wants to raise JV-encouragement with Prime Minister Key.
NZ Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Murray McCully, in his May 1 2009 speech announcing Government’s “sustainable economic growth mandate” for NZAID said “getting better value for money will call for more co-operation, more teamwork, more creativity, and more focus”.
Earlier, Mr Ullrich told Mr McCully of his support for the JOVE scheme, and NZPBC’s wish that New Zealand increase its commitment to support sustainable economic development projects through NZAID and other government and business agencies.
An April RSE investment seminar, based on the Recognized Seasonal Employment scheme in the Hawkes Bay, is an indicator that seasonal workers in Marlborough and other regions could play a role in developing the sort of joint ventures the JOVE scheme anticipates.
Pousima Afeaki, Tonga based chair of TNZBA says the proposal is that a scheme be established to encourage New Zealand companies to set up joint-ventures in the Pacific.
Afeaki, a commerce graduate from Victoria University of Wellington, former staff member of the Commerce Commission, financial journalist and now a Tongatapu farmer and trader is of Tongan Maori descent with top of the South connections.
The TNZBA says the peoples of New Zealand and the Pacific Islands will mutually benefit from an increase in understanding of cultural similarities and differences through the process of working together in JVs.
For the Pacific Islands, the urgent need is to create jobs through investment in the private-sector. Pacific Island countries do not have money or expertise to do so on their own. TNZBA say the cost is social unrest resulting from the inability to create enough jobs for young and aspiring populations.
In the March 2009 background to the JV-encouragement scheme, the TNZBA said part of New Zealand’s aid to assist developing Pacific Islands is aimed at developing sustainable economic growth. This includes helping the private-sectors in Pacific Island countries to grow and create jobs.
The JOVE proposal “aims to provide an effective way for New Zealand to help the private-sectors of Pacific Island countries grow and create jobs”.
Mr McCully said on 1 May NZAID’s revised mandate “will now require a clear focus on sustainable economic growth as the means by which we seek to improve the lives of our poorer neighbours.”
Objective measures like trade and tourism statistics will be used as the indicators of success or failure over time.
That will require us to pay more than lip service to our support for the fledgling private sectors in developing Pacific nations, through micro-financing schemes and other initiatives that create opportunities for enterprise Mr McCully said.
TNZBA’s Afeaki said in the JOVE proposal “the private sectors of developing Pacific Island countries do not have access to sufficient funding or expertise to make use of the opportunities that exist in areas such as agriculture, fishing, processing of agricultural and marine products, processing of forestry resources, tourism and hospitality”.
New Zealand companies have world-class experience in all of these areas. If offered the right incentives, New Zealand companies would invest in joint-venture operations in the Pacific TNZBA says.
Sydney based Jim Willett, a specialist in small business development who has worked in the Pacific since the 1970s, recommends building on what is there already.
Marlborough interests could build on connections growing through the RSE scheme, Kaikoura Whale Watch, Maori tourism, tour and transport operations to seek a place in the Jonah and the whale project.
Locals might find other opportunities created by the encouragement for NZ Pacific joint ventures in tourism and other sectors.
By Anthony Haas, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it