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The director general of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community wants to see Maori become more involved with what happens in Te Moananui a Kiwa.
Colin Tukuitonga, a former chief executive of New Zealand’s Ministry of Pacific Affairs, last night signed a 10-year strategic partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade aimed at boosting development outcomes in the region.
He says his organisation, which provides scientific and technical services to support development in Pacific Island countries and territories, is an ideal development partner for New Zealand.
He says of particular value could be picking up programmes that have worked with Maori and Pacific communities in Aotearoa.
"The Maori smokefree programmes have been effective here, particularly for young people, and yet we're still trying to push the conventional models from the developed world into the small islands with disappointing results. This is a classic example where the Maori experience that resonates more with the Island folk has a much better chance of being effective than the conventional stuff that we have been trying to push," he says.
Dr Tukuitonga says New Zealand’s aid spend is well below what’s expected internationally, and he would like to see more going into the Pacific.
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