This page identifies and where possible links to major development related news and stories featured by: Radio New Zealand; Dominion Post; NZ Herald; Christchurch Press; Sunday Star Times; and includes major press releases from NZAID and the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. We may occasionally publish stories from other sources.

 

See also current media round-up.

 

Aotearoa New Zealand

 

21 March, NZ Government : Climate Change research grants made available

More than $5 million is to be allocated to fund the first tranche of research proposals through the Plan of Action for Sustainable Land Management and Climate Change, Agriculture Minister Jim Anderton said today.

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0803/S00388.htm

 

 

20 March, Radio NZ, Morning Report : NZ crime rate near the top of a UN Survey

New Zealand is rated the third worst country for crime in an international survey.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/national/mnr/nz_crime_rate_near_the_top_of_a_un_survey

 

19 March, Radio NZ International: West Papua National Authority fears Indonesian forces are rounding up more Papuans

The West Papua National Authority says it fears that Indonesian security forces are rounding up more Papuans involved in peaceful demonstrations since the beginning of March.

http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=38682

 

19 March, Radio NZ, Nine-to-Noon : Cousin of Christchurch man arrested by the Chinese forces

Christchurch man whose cousin is a Tibetan monk arrested by the Chinese forces. .

http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/national/ntn/cousin_of_chch_man_arrested_by_the_chinese_forces

19 March, Radio NZ, Morning Report : Government defends free trade deal with China

Government defends plan to sign a free trade deal with China, despite concerns about the Chinese clampdown in Tibet.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/national/mnr/government_defends_plan_to_sign_a_free_trade_deal_with_china

18 March, NZ Herald: World will be watching Clark's stance

Fran O'Sullivan. The Chinese authorities' crackdown on the Tibetan protesters could not have come at a more delicate time for Prime Minister Helen Clark.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10498783

18 March, NZ Herald: China trade deal excellent say Nats

Brian Fallow. The free trade agreement with China, due to be signed next month, is an excellent deal, says National Party trade spokesman Tim Groser.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10498786

18 March, NZ Herald: 'Concerned' PM sends China a message

Audrey Young. Helen Clark has asked New Zealand's Ambassador in Beijing, Tony Browne, to convey New Zealand's "deep concern" about the violence in Tibet, and urged China to react "carefully" to protesters.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10498794

17 March, The Press : Anti-China protest shadows NZ trade deal

Charlie Gates. The Government is distancing the bloody crackdown on Tibetan protesters from a historic free-trade agreement set to be signed with China within weeks by the Prime Minister, Helen Clark.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4441779a10.html

17 March, The Press : Telecom carries away 2007 Roger Award

Paul Gorman. Telecom has outstripped the competition to take the 2007 Roger Award for what the organisers judge is the worst transnational company in New Zealand.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/thepress/4441795a6009.html

17 March, DomPost : Tibet unrest no reason to ditch trade talks

NZPA. Prime Minister Helen Clark says she is not going to shoot her mouth off about the situation in Tibet until she knows what the facts are but was prepared to speak out if peaceful protesters had been killed.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominionpost/4442413a6000.html

16 March, NZ Herald : MP: Government must take clear stance on Tibet

Green Party MP Keith Locke said the Prime Ministers’ post-Cabinet statement is letting down the Tibetan people and selling short the people of New Zealand. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10498480

Pacific

19 March, Fairfax : Bainimarama tells media not to call

Michael Field. Fiji's military dictator has warned the country's news media not to call him any more on his cell phone

.http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominionpost/4445431a6031.html

14 March, Fairfax : Pacific Forum in financial crisis

Michael Field. A key Pacific political body that is significantly funded by the New Zealand Government is in severe financial strife, the Suva based Islands Business monthly reports.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4439726a11.html

10 March, Rt Hon Winston Peters, Minister of Foreign Affairs : NZ to help rebuild Solomon Islands homes

Thousands of homes damaged or destroyed by earthquake and tsunami in the Solomon Islands last April are to be rebuilt with help from New Zealand, Foreign Minister Winston Peters announced today.

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0803/S00154.htm

9 March, Radio NZ : Australia pushes to host Forum Summit in 2009

Next year’s Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting could be hosted by Australia.Australia’s prime minister, Kevin Rudd, has told leaders in Solomon Islands that he is keen to advance a new Pacific policy.

http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=38464

International

 

 

21 March, NZ Herald : China admits police opened fire on Tibetan protesters

The Dalai Lama has said he is willing to step down as head of the Tibetan government in exile if that was needed to stop the riots in his homeland, but China repeated its charge that he had masterminded the violence.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/2/story.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10499423

 

19 March, NZ Herald : Dalai Lama willing to step down to end Tibetan rioting

The Dalai Lama has said he is willing to step down as head of the Tibetan government in exile if that was needed to stop the riots in his homeland, but China repeated its charge that he had masterminded the violence.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/2/story.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10498989&pnum=0

 

19 March, NZ Herald : Dalai Lama willing to step down to end Tibetan rioting

The Dalai Lama has said he is willing to step down as head of the Tibetan government in exile if that was needed to stop the riots in his homeland, but China repeated its charge that he had masterminded the violence.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/2/story.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10498989&pnum=0

 

19 March, Radio NZ, Morning Report : Five years occupation in Iraq

It is five years on from the day when a coalition of nations invaded Iraq, and still no end to occupation is yet in sight.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/national/mnr/five_years_occupation_in_iraq

18 March, Radio NZ, Morning Report : Tibet crisis - China crackdown

Other countries urge China to show restraint and respect freedom of speech in the illegally annexed province.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/national/mnr/tibet_crisis_-_china_crackdown

7 March, DomPost: Tibetan riots spread

Reuters. Rioting has erupted in a province neighbouring Tibet, two days after ugly street protests by Tibetans against Chinese rule in Lhasa that the contested region's government-in-exile said had killed 80 people. http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominionpost/4441645a6031.html

14 March, Radio NZ, Nine to Noon : Feature Guest, Joseph Stiglitz Katharyn Ryan interviews Nobel Prize winner and former chief economist for the World Bank, Joseph Stiglitz.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/national/ntn/feature_guest_-_joseph_e_stiglitz

11 March, Radio NZ, Nine to Noon : The potato in world history

2008, UN's year of the potato and John Reader, writer of 'Propitious Esculent: The Potato in World History' talks the humble spud.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/national/ntn/the_potato_in_world_history