Islander needs special - Clark

WELLINGTON - Pacific Islanders in New Zealand have special needs which cannot always be met through programmes set up for other groups, says the Labour leader, Helen Clark.

Releasing Labour's Pacific Island policy yesterday, she said that particular problems affected Island people in areas like health, education and employment.

"The National Government has done very little to address the concerns of the Pacific Island communities. Unemployment is high, educational achievement rates are comparatively low and health statistics have seen little improvement."

Labour viewed education as the key to unlocking the potential of present and future generations of Pacific Islanders, Helen Clark said.

Policies announced yesterday included reviewing the criteria for funding early childhood education to ensure they did not unfairly disadvantage Pacific Islanders; providing assistance for language nests; organising a conference of Pacific Island education, Government and community representatives to develop a national strategy for Pacific education; and establishing teacher-training scholarships that bond Pacific Island graduates in teaching jobs for the length of their study.

Labour would also investigate ways to boost the representation of Pacific Islanders on school boards of trustees and establish a pilot programme to attract more Pacific Islanders into tertiary education.

Health was a major concern for Island communities and Labour would ensure their access to care by:

* Encouraging the establishment of Pacific people's health clinics.

* Promoting programmes addressing the health needs of Pacific Island women that were sensitive to their culture.

* Investigating screening for diabetes and hepatitis B.

* Ensuring that educational material on health was made available in Pacific Island languages.

- NZPA