Thurston County Democrats

With the cicadae humming in the background, I gaze east at the vast Pacific Ocean and think fondly of all our friends in Thurston County and the USA. Trying to put my head around the political realities back home while being in such an idyllic setting is certainly a challenge, but one I am grateful for and which will likely fade quickly when we return next week!

Christi and I have been fortunate to have spent the last month in New Zealand, an indescribably beautiful country, populated by both dark and light skinned folks who are friendly, informal, and definitely value humor more than pretense. If you’ve been here, you certainly understand. If you haven’t, do make plans to come.

Although news here understandably is not focused on what the world’s hyperpower is up to, it is significant that the Prime Minister, Helen Clark, has been granted two hours of face time with George Bush next week. She’s making her first trip next week to the U.S. since 2002, leaving the same day we do on a regular commercial flight– accompanied by no significant entourage. She apparently was not well received in 2002, declining to sign up for the “coalition of the willing,” or whatever it was called. She plans to talk about trade, security in the South Pacific region and Afghanistan. According to sources here, she will also meet with Nancy Pelosi the following day, and will stop in Seattle to visit the UW and Microsoft on her return.

We did have an opportunity to attend a session of Parliament a couple of weeks ago. Similar to Britain, it was much livelier than our Congress, as it is common for opposition speakers to interrupt whoever has the floor. We also had a great tour, our guide being an expatriate American who migrated 40 some years ago. (This preceded our trip to the south island where we rented an apartment from another expatriate. Hmm...)

New Zealand is dealing with many of the same issues we are, such as managing growth and development, energy efficiency and climate change, and distribution of health care resources. I’m impressed with the resource management act that they passed in the 1970s, placing the management of all natural resources under one central agency, eliminating what was a hodgepodge of conflicting district (similar to our states or counties) level rules and regulations.

Humans didn’t arrive here until about 800 years ago and the country is making a serious effort to return as much of its land and water area as possible to rich habitat that existed before man arrived. The Department of Conservation appears to be well funded and maintains an excellent system of tracks (trails) throughout the many nature reserves. I’ve hiked a lot of trails in the U.S., but never experienced any like what’s here.

What’s most impressive to me is New Zealand’s effort to be an egalitarian, multi-cultural democracy. The U.S. (and nearby Australia) could learn a lot from what New Zealand is doing when it comes to integrating into society those who were here first. The Maori were the first to populate these islands, having migrated from throughout Polynesia. The Europeans arrived about 400 years later and, like many in the U.S., signed a treaty with those who were there before. However, in contrast to the U.S., New Zealand has taken its treaty seriously. Like Native Americans, many Maori struggle with poverty, crime, and disease, but they are not confined to reservations, own land throughout the country, and are allocated parliamentary seats. Their language is used commonly aside English throughout the country, their royalty is recognized and all members of Parliament must take classes in the Maori language and culture.

George could learn a lot from Helen when they meet next week, but somehow I don’t think he will!