Fiji PM in for warm welcome
Goff deputy seen as solid and likeable
Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama was due to arrive in New Zealand last night, the former military dictator’s first official visit since democratic election in Fiji in 2014.
Bainimarama was once on the list of people banned from New Zealand, after leading a coup in 2006.
Relations reached crisis point in 2008 when New Zealand expelled the Fiji High Commissioner in response to the Fiji leader expelling Kiwi and Australian diplomats.
But the thaw in diplomatic relations has been rapid since Fiji’s 2014 elections.
Foreign Minister Murray McCully has been a regular visitor to the island nation and Prime Minister John Key made an official visit in June. Land area: 2103sq m Dog pays a ground rental Tender closes November 9 Agent: Bayleys Blair Hutcheson
Key will host Bainimarama at the Bledisloe Cup game on Saturday at Eden Park.
New Zealand and the United States have tried to maintain a reasonable relationship with Fiji, not least to offset its growing friendships with China and Russia.
Fisheries and other trade will be a key focus of Bainimarama’s activities in Auckland today as he seeks to drum up more investment in Fiji.
Shane Jones, New Zealand’s Pacific Ambassador for Economic Development, will host him for much of the day.
The pair will speak at an investment symposium.
The Pacific trade and de- velopment deal Pacer Plus is also likely to be on the agenda of talks with McCully today and Key on Saturday.
There has been some disquiet over the detention last month of five opposition figures who took part in a forum to discuss the country’s constitution, although they were released without charge.
But Jones said: “Let’s deal with the man as the elected representative of Fiji and the reality is that two-way business continued over the last 10 to 12 years. Anything that creates [fisheries] industry jobs in that part of the Pacific deserves our support.”
Bainimarama will have meetings with the Fiji community in Auckland. He will be formally welcomed to NZ on Saturday and hold formal talks with Key before the rugby. Auckland Mayor Phil Goff has chosen Franklin councillor Bill Cashmore to be his deputy.
The Herald has learned that Cashmore, a second-term councillor and National Party member, has been given the role. It is understood that former deputy mayor Penny Hulse, North Shore councillor Chris Darby and Whau councillor Ross Clow have been appointed as chairs of major committees.
Goff is expected to announce Cashmore as deputy and a new committee structure today. Cashmore is seen as solid, likeable, a good operator and capable of getting numbers around the council table. It is understood he was always the frontrunner for the job, which comes with a salary of $151,850. He is 59.
Hulse was ruled out early because of close ties to former mayor Len Brown and by Goff wanting to put distance between his council and the Brown-Hulse regime. She also does not have good relations with some councillors.
Cashmore said he had not officially heard that he had been appointed deputy.
“If it’s true I’m humbled and I will put my back to the job as hard as I possibly can. Penny Hulse set the bar very, very high . . .”