Transcript
FIAME NAOMI MATA'AFA: For us in the Pacific we're very happy that this has occurred because the role that New Zealand and Australia play in the region, they're both members of the Pacific Islands Leaders' Forum, and it's always good to have most of the family - so to speak - having a consensus around critical issues and climate change is a critical issue for the Pacific. So that's the first message. We want to say that we're very happy that New Zealand is going this way.
My particular presentation will be about what we're doing and in fact the Pacific have prioritised renewable energy as one of our major commitments to the climate change action. Moving away from fossil fuels is not only climatically the correct thing to do but it also assists with our budgetary circumstances - and the dependence on that - and moving into the more renewable energy technologies that are now available. So, it should help because essentially countries are dependent on their economies and I think, if we do things correctly, this move will not only assist us climatically, but it will also assist us economically.
DOMINIC GODFREY: Beyond energy production in the Pacific, possibly the second largest creator of emissions is transport and tourism and yet these are areas where the Pacific is becoming increasingly reliant upon. How do you balance those two?
FNM: Well, like everything else with climate change, it's not just about the Pacific. It's about the whole world you know. So I think those challenges will be felt in the Pacific as it is internationally. But in terms of our planning, especially with regards to transport, we're looking first and foremost at land transportation. Not only for general and domestic use but also commercial, especially with respect to public transport. I mean, we only have one aeroplane and that's leased, so I think with these kinds of issues for small countries, if the problem was solved elsewhere by the larger and more able countries, it usually flows through down to Samoa.
The maritime transportation, I'm thinking in terms of planning because the whole world is thinking that way. Looking at our shipping fleets we'll probably be following along the more advanced countries in terms of what they're able to produce as alternatives but it's definitely in the plans that we have.
DG: Now prior to heading up to Taranaki you're in Wellington. You're going to be meeting with some of your New Zealand counterparts, various ministers. What's on the agenda there?
FNM: Essentially just a catch-up. I met with Minister (for Climate Change) Shaw this morning. I was particularly interested to follow up with him around legislation that is being developed around climate change. Catching up with the Foreign Affairs, the ODA (Overseas Development Assistance) programme and the bilaterals, the Pacific reset. We're all very keen to see what that means and as the environment minister I'm of course very pleased that climate change is very much in the forefront. (I'm) catching up with some of the Pacific Island colleagues, the Minister for Pacific Peoples and the Associate Minister for Immigration, Kris Fa'afoi. The RSE (Recognised Seasonal Employer) programme of course is very current and seems to be doing very well here. It's expanded working opportunities. I think the programme has grown and strengthened in terms of both parties being able to gain the benefits that they're looking to.
