New Zealand
Politicians In Festive Spirits
Pasifika Festival, Pasifika Politics
Auckland's Pasifika Festival has long been the one of the biggest calendar events for New Zealand's most populated city. Not only is it promoted as the world's biggest free community event of its kind, it has successfully encapsulated the current mood of a country embracing multi-culturalism, celebrating in particular the diversity and contributions of its substantial Pacific Island communities now numbering over 260,000 (or 6 percent of the total population of 4.1 million) according to the latest census statistics released last November.
But increasingly the event has become a who's who of New Zealand's political scene. At the event held at Western Springs in early March, not only was the Labour government out in force led by Prime Minister Helen Clark, but also members of the Opposition National Party and other parties. With a guaranteed audience of 200,000 plus crowded into a radius of just a few square miles, many of them voters, who could blame them?
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National Party leader John Key was there with his key Pacific spokesperson Judith Collins. Since taking over the leadership from Don Brash, Key has gained in popularity, distancing himself from Brash's alienating policies towards minorities and pushing himself into the communities.
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New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark mingles with the crowd at the Pasifika Festival. PHOTO: PETER REES
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Labour was far from complacent, with party leader and Prime Minister Helen Clark there with her Labour Party Pacific caucus in tow. Making a “guest appearance” on one of the five main performing stages erected at the event, she used the few minutes to reinforce Labour's support of the Pacific community. But eyes were not so much on Clark but on the man standing to her side, Su'a William Sio, who many now believe will run for Labour in the crucial Mangere electorate in South Auckland.
With the embattled Taito Phillip Field resigning from Labour and becoming an independent, Manukau City Councilor Su'a William Sio is almost certainly the man Labour is banking on to regain the Mangere seat. Not surprisingly he has stayed quiet on his political aspirations. He declined an interview with Pacific Magazine stating, "I think your line of questioning is too advanced for the current situation."
However the consistency of his appearances with Clark at such events suggests otherwise. And Taito? He is not yet out of the woods on immigration allegations, although he has met supporters to discuss establishing a new Pacific Party.
