Insensitivity’ in Pacific denied — P.M.

Press, 21 July 1976, Page 2

Insensitivity’ in Pacific denied — P.M.

PA \\ ellington

Claims of New Zealand’s “insensitivity” towards Pacific Island nations were flatly denied yesterday by the Prime Minister 'Mr Muldoon).

At a Parliamentary luncheon for the Western Samoan Prime Minister (Mr Tupuola Efi), Mr Muldoon said there was a keen interest in New Zealand about events in the Pacific. “I think you read ourj newspapers," Mr Muldoon! said. 'We certainly read; yours. Over recent months | the press in both our countries claims to have found! evidence that New Zealand! has somehow become 'insensitive* to the feelings of! its neighbours. "I hope that it is not neces-i sarv for me to say that this! is not true." But the Prime Minister acknowledged that “possibly”; we have been guilty of congratulating ourselves about all the good and helpful things we are trying to do

■ (in the Pacific) without really , looking very carefully at what is actually happening ' there. , “We have been busy con- ■ vincing ourselves . . that all ! is well in our neighbourhood without checking the facts—- ■ well. I think we are beginning Ito sit up and take notice.” Mr Muldoon said all in the r lPacific had to question their i attitudes about the region. I “We cannot take all the old iassumotionc for granted anv ’‘more." ! In a reference to Russian I (interest in the region, he II said, “We have to come to •Iterms with the fact that the f“esources of the ocean may 'be the economic wealth of ithe future. This prospect has tiled to new interest in the Iregion bv those outside it. H “These developments are ’:a challenge to regional co- • operation which is of a dift ferent magnitude to the I efforts at regional co-opera- • tion in the past.”