features

Pity the British Royal Family. A few centuries ago they could indulge their sexual peccadillos and eccentric pomposity in total privacy. Now what do we have? Tabloid journalists posing as footmen in Buckingham Palace.

The redeployment of the SAS to Afghanistan will again put New Zealand troops in the midst of the 'War on Terror'. Everyone from Amnesty to the UN has been having a go over the mistreatment of prisoners. How clean are New Zealand's hands on this issue?

The Government has sent SAS troops back to Afghanistan, to a war commentators frequently describe as ‘unwinnable’.  Opinion polls in countries that are actively engaged in the war – such as Australia, Britain and Canada – show a majority in favour of withdrawing combat troops.  Going into Afghanistan now in a combat role is akin to deciding to send troops to Vietnam in late 1974.

KEITH LOCKE* says good elements of the Government's defence assessment are undermined by the ignoring of air combat issues.

After a seven year wait, my Head of State Referenda Bill was finally pulled from the Member’s Ballot. This is my own private member’s bill. I hope to win enough support in Parliament to send it through for Select Committee consideration.  

The Identity (Citizenship and Travel Documents) Bill may be rushed through Parliament before Christmas despite being panned by most submitters to the Government Administration Select Committee.

TERRORISM: Keith Locke says we should not meekly accede to over-the-top American edicts.

Photo Abizer Pacific Big Eye and Yellowfin tuna are overfished by non-Pacific fishers and are now seriously threatened. Each year in the Pacific Foreign countries catch over 90% of tuna in the Pacific. This has a value of US $3 billion a year. Only $0.15 billion of this stays in Pacific mostly through processing. High tech large ships can catch as much fish in two days as a small Pacific nation can in a year. What can we do? Metiria and Keith are currently running a campaign to pressure the New Zealand Government to actively support and enable Pacific Island Nations. A copy of the petition can be downloaded from: www.greens.org.nz/conservation/tunapetition

Prince Charlie has a lot to commend him. He's quite a greenie, with his own organic garden &endash; and he's dead against GE foods. But he shouldn't be King of New Zealand.