KEY POINTS:
New Zealand iwi could provide models for Melanesian countries on how to profit from their vast collectively-owned resources, says National's associate spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Trade.
John Hayes, also a former high commissioner of Papua New Guinea, told a Melanesian Symposium in Wellington yesterday that he thought Maori iwi could play a huge role in helping set up profit making systems under traditional forms of control.
Mr Hayes noted the tribal nature of Melanesian society where customary ownership meant the transfer of wealth and living standards to the people remained elusive.
The diverse communities within Melanesian states also made for a tough job in creating a sense of nationhood, he said.
Mr Hayes said New Zealand should support Melanesian nations to get whole communities involved in the sale of resources, and aid money needed to be focused on economic development.
He added that a minimal part of the aid budget could be use to accommodate Pacific Island leaders for sabbatical in New Zealand if they wanted to engage about specific problems or with their communities here.
Mr Hayes was concerned at the "increased bureaucratisation of regional leadership."
"Leaders need to meet beyond the reach of their Pacific minders."
There were few opportunities for leaders to engage with each other, he said.
"They need to understand each other."
Mr Hayes suggested the New Zealand Parliament devoted one week a year to Pacific issues and let the country leaders talk on its floor.
Tia Barrett, a symposium chair and former high commissioner to Fiji, noted the traditional strength of Melanesian people.
Mr Barrett said Maori had could demonstrate development models to make traditional structures work with the demands of a modern economy so tribes could manage multi-million assets.
In his opening address to the symposium former Papua New Guinean Prime Minister Sir Rabbie Namaliu had identified that potential.
Sir Rabbie said the experience of Maori landowners who promoted development at a local level could be useful.
He was concerned how little of the revenue from oil, mining and forestry in Papua New Guinea went back to the local communities.
"Maybe the Maori experience can assist us in how better to invest in things to enhance our living standards."
Isabel Evans, a trustee of the Pacific Cooperation Foundation which hosted the symposium, said the emerging levels of interest in Melanesia tended to focus on negative perceptions of the region.
The countries faced challenges but few current strategies accommodated the strengths of their culture, she said.
Luamanuvao Winnie Laban, Minister of Pacific Island Affairs, said challenges facing Melanesia included growing youth unemployment and poverty, and health issues like HIV/AIDS.
Ms Laban said a toxic mix of climate change, population increase and land tenure issues undermined growth and stability which were an emerging risk to food security.
There were also law and order issues and ongoing threats to governments' stability.
"And to be blunt, corruption seems endemic and undermines governance at almost every turn."
Ms Laban said in recognising the increased importance of the region New Zealand had stepped up its representations in Port Moresby, Port Vila and Suva.
Background notes to the symposium noted that many political and legal constructs in Melanesia were borrowed from western traditions yet the countries had large populations still living traditional lifestyles out of step with a modern nation state.
There was a need for their governments to maintain communication with traditional forms of governance and incorporate cultural frameworks into state institutional operations.
Home to 85% of Pacific people:
Melanesia comprises Fiji, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.
It represents 85 per cent of Pacific people on 95 per cent of the region's land mass.
Melanesia is richly endowed with minerals, energy, agriculture and forest resources.
New Zealand goods trade with Melanesia increased form $385 million in 1997 to just over $610million in 2007.
By 2011 New Zealand aid assistance to Melanesia will total around $100 million a year, an increase of over 200 per cent spending in seven years.
Over 2000 Melanasians have come here to work though the seasonal employees scheme.
