Naval ship embargo ‘not directly an issue’
Pacific nations over Solomon Islands’ tightening ties with China – including signing a security agreement with Beijing that would allow Chinese military ships port access.
New Zealand has been developing a maritime security strategy with Solomon Islands.
Mahuta said the moratorium was ‘‘not directly an issue for us’’.
‘‘We don’t have any navy ships there and I am informed none are programmed to go there in the near future,’’ Mahuta said.
The decision not to provide the US Coast Guard Cutter Oliver Henry diplomatic clearance to enter the Solomon Islands’ capital, Honiara, for refuelling,
The National Party and the ACT Party have labelled a bill which seeks to make all public sector agencies use clear, concise language when communicating with the public as ‘‘stupid’’.
Labour backbencher Rachel Boyack said complicated language acted as a barrier for many – including migrants, the disabled and those with English as a second language. ‘‘As an electorate MP it is an issue that does come across my desk a lot,’’ she said. Her plain language bill, which passed its second reading in the House yesterday, would mean every public service and Crown agency must make sure it communicates in plain language and have a designated plain language officer. This sweeping move would impact hundreds of workplaces. It would impact all official documents and websites.
National’s Simeon Brown said the new positions would be ‘‘language police’’, adding unnecessary bureaucracy, and argued its true intent was to ‘‘control minds’’. ‘‘This is all about the Government wanting to control the message to New Zealanders more and more,’’ Brown said.
But Labour MP Naisi Chen said it would be a role assigned to a person already working, refuting Brown’s claim it would see earlier this month was called ‘‘regrettable’’ by a spokesperson for the US embassy in Wellington, however the US Navy hospital ship Mercy did receive clearance on Monday.
A day later, the Solomon Islands Government told the US it was placing a ‘‘moratorium on all naval visits, pending updates in protocol procedures’’, the embassy spokesperson said.
Sogavare, attending a ceremony welcoming the hospital ship, said there had been a delay in granting the Oliver Henry entry due to his office not receiving the appropriate information on time. ‘‘Unfortunately, by the time the approval was communicated . . . the ship’s captain had decided to leave our waters,’’ he said. ‘‘We have requested our partners to give us time to review and put in place our new processes before sending further requests for military vessels to enter the country. Once the new mechanism is in place, we will inform you all. We anticipate the new process to be smoother and timelier,’’ Sogavare said.
A Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson said New Zealand regularly sought permission for military assets to enter Solomon Islands’ territory, including when Defence Force staff went to the country’s aid after rioting late last year.