I can't for the life of me see that by being permissive you actually assist anyone.

Hollow commitments to action in the future are insufficient. Deferring difficult issues must not be tolerated. Our children and grandchildren expect us to speak and act decisively.

The decision by France to resume nuclear testing in the South Pacific has destroyed this hope and raised a storm of protest at home, in the South Pacific and thankfully around the world.

I can't for the life of me see that by being permissive you actually assist anyone.

NGOs have a significant role to play, alongside governments, in improving the status of women.

By and large, women in New Zealand are fortunate compared with some other countries, including many in our own region. But there is still progress to be made.

It is important to remember that the Pacific Ocean covers a quarter of the world's surface and that each Pacific country has its own cultural, historical and ethnic identity.