Maxim Institute - real issues - No 207
1 June 2006
www.maxim.org.nz
SAVING AN ENDANGERED SPECIES
WHAT MAKES A PATRIOT?
PROTECTING SECURITY IN THE REGION
IN THE NEWS: INVESTING IN THE FUTURE
IN THE NEWS: DOING BUSINESS IN NEW ZEALAND
SAVING AN ENDANGERED SPECIES
Wednesday 31 May marked World Smokefree Day. Te Reo Marama, the Maori Smokefree Coalition, published large
advertisements in several major newspapers calling Maori an "endangered species". The ads said: "Tobacco companies are
killing Maori like you wouldn't believe". The Coalition called on New Zealanders to "... get rid of tobacco" and "...
work together to save our most precious native species."
There is no doubt that the smoking rate among Maori is horrific. Research published by Auahi Kore points out that in
2002, nearly half (49 percent) of Maori smoked - a far higher proportion than other ethnicities. Quite clearly,
something must be done. Controversial advertisements are an effective way to raise awareness, but noise is not
automatically helpful.
In this instance, the ad paints Maori as passive victims, rather than as people empowered to take responsibility for
their own health. However much one might dislike tobacco companies, they can only produce cigarettes; they cannot force
anyone to light up.
The smoking rate must come down, and particularly among Maori, but the road to a smoke-free New Zealand lies in
empowering people to take charge of their own lives and futures, not in positioning them as victims. Real change
requires a variety of approaches, including a multitude of personal choices and the inward determination to carry them
through.
More information on Maori smoking is available here: http://www.auahikore.co.nz/research/index.htm
WHAT MAKES A PATRIOT?
Grandstanding abounds this week, as our main political parties trade snide remarks. Prime Minister Helen Clark has
accused Don Brash of being "unpatriotic" for talking up Australia at the expense of New Zealand. Dr. Brash responded
indignantly, parading his Nationalist credentials and pride in the country's achievements. The dispute raises the wider
question: what is a patriot?
According to the Concise Oxford Dictionary, to be patriotic is to be "devoted to the interests or well-being of one's
country". Patriotism is loyalty to a nation, not a particular government, political party or policy. To believe that New
Zealand can do better, and to say so, is not unpatriotic. New Zealand citizenship has no ideological or political test,
and is overlaid with no wider political allegiance, other than to a common Sovereign and common institutions, such as
Parliament and the rule of law. They rightly have a claim on our allegiance; individual political parties and policies,
of whatever stripe, do not.
Dr. Brash has been comparing New Zealand's performance economically (and our standard of living) with Australia's, just
as all politicians do when it suits them. It is common for us to measure our performance against our Commonwealth
allies. Dr. Brash might have said little else recently, but that makes him repetitive, not unpatriotic.
Dr. Brash believes that he has the country's best interests at heart. So, no doubt, does the Prime Minister. That makes
both of them sincere patriots, albeit with contrasting visions for the country. That is what democracy and democratic
debate are all about.
PROTECTING SECURITY IN THE REGION
As East Timor teeters on the brink of chaos, the government has approved the deployment of up to 200 New Zealand
soldiers to help restore order there. New Zealand is working in co-operation with an Australian-led force, which also
includes Portugal and Malaysia.
Whether it is patrolling the streets of Dili, or reviewing policing in the Cook Islands, contributing to regional
assistance missions is important because it recognises that a stable Pacific is good for New Zealand's security. Our
interests are served when our neighbours, trading partners and friends in the Pacific live in concord.
Many small Pacific nations are vulnerable, so preventing and combating instability is important for sustaining the
region's security over the long term. New Zealand has traditionally looked out for its closest neighbours, and we ought
to keep doing our bit. Sometimes protecting the weak and upholding security requires force, therefore we cannot afford
to be lax in maintaining our own defence forces.
In doing so, we will also often work in concert with our allies, who share our interest in a stable Pacific. Australia,
the United States and Britain are high on the list, and the European Union has also signalled an interest this week in
an even stronger relationship with the Pacific, including more development aid, and better security.
This is a positive step, but because of its even closer connections, New Zealand needs to make sure its voice remains
strong in Pacific affairs. Our intervention in East Timor is a welcome and concrete demonstration that we are determined
to take regional security seriously, and to help keep order on our doorstep.
IN THE NEWS
IN THE NEWS: INVESTING IN THE FUTURE
The University of Auckland Business School recently received an endowment of $10 million towards its development
project. Writing in the New Zealand Herald this week, Dean of the School, Barry Spicer, highlighted how philanthropic
giving to educational institutes in New Zealand is uncommon, and is particularly low compared with the United States. He
said: "US Government tax concessions undoubtedly provide a powerful incentive. Philanthropy - private giving - is the
reason the US has developed so many great universities, with tremendous resources and huge capacity and capability."
In New Zealand, education is viewed almost exclusively as the responsibility of government and tax concessions for
charitable giving are minor, with low thresholds for rebates. In this context, and with the recent debate about the need
to create an 'ownership society', the sizable donation to the Business School is particularly noteworthy.
When the community takes ownership of its own future, it has a clear and direct stake in what is going on. This does
more than just channel money, it connects people.
IN THE NEWS: DOING BUSINESS IN NEW ZEALAND
This week Finance Minister Michael Cullen highlighted the Doing Business in 2006 report, published by the World Bank
Group, which compares the ease of doing business in different countries. According to the ten factors measured, New
Zealand was ranked first out of the 155 countries included in the research, for ease of doing business.
It is good that New Zealand is an easier place to do business than many other countries, but the real test is in the
ongoing success of businesses, and their impact on the domestic economy. New Zealand might be ranked fourth in the world
for ease of starting up a business, but how many of our local start-ups are still going strong several years on? These
important questions must also be asked.
To read the report; Doing Business in 2006, please visit: http://www.doingbusiness.org/
TALKING POINT
Consider what a current advertisement for Kiwi Bank says:
"The big banks put profits first, that's a foreign concept to us."
What message does this send about profit? And why does Kiwi Bank exist?
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ENDS