NZ PM Jacinda Ardern named 'Pacific Person of the Year' Featured
6 January, 2019. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has been named 'Pacific Person of the Year' by regional publication Islands Business magazine.
It is only the second time the title has been given to a person of non-Pacific heritage, with former Australian Prime Minister John Howard being a previous recipient of the honour.
The magazine's editor Samisoni Pareti said each year his publication attempted to look at the person, people or organisations that had made an impact on the Pacific.
Mr Pareti said Ms Ardern was given the 2019 title because of her work at the Pacific Islands Forum to bring consensus around the issue of climate change.
"It was prime minister Ardern's skills at negotiation, diplomacy and her charisma... that saved the day for Pacific Island countries, Pacific Island leaders.
"She got, particularly her counterpart across the Tasman Sea, Scott Morrison to come to a middle ground when it comes to a climate change position."
Mr Pareti said her handling of the Christchurch terror attacks was also commendable.
"That really drew our attention to Prime Minister Ardern and from then on we started watching how she performed, not only in parliament but in her dealings with crisis and her own electorate and country."
Mr Pareti said Ms Ardern had been a breath of fresh air in terms of political leadership in the islands.
"She is a young person, she is a woman, she is a mother. She has got everything that I guess one would wish upon a Pacific Island leader.
"She listens, she is decisive and she always tries to bring people together and not too divisive," he said.
Previous people named 'Pacific Person of the Year' included Fiji Prime Minister Frank Banimarama and the late Tongan Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva.
2 comments
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Climate change didn't kill 300 babies like measles did in the Pacific recently, but yeah, let's spotlight the poster girl for climate change because that's the real killer here in the Islands...good job NZ PM...I guess Pacific just means Aussie and NZ, period.
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WHAT HAS SHE DONE FOR PACIFIC ISLANDERS IN THEIR HOMES?
What has NZ PM Jacinda Ardern done for the Pacific Islands besides riding the European Union coattail on the "climate change" farce? Stop terrifying Pacific Islanders that their islands are sinking because of fossil fuel. Such lies to keep NZ, Australia and Europe feed us the climate change baloney.
The climate and weather has been changing for millions of years. Living on a Paradise Island is a privilege, and climate shocks are a fact of life. Generations of Pacific Islanders have enjoyed and suffered the good and bad weather in the beautiful Pacific. Stop telling us lies when the world will end.
Islands Business editor Samisoni Pareti is kissing up PM Arden's dress without listing true achievements that made the difference in the lives of the Pacific Islanders. Mr. Pareti needs to investigate the true causes of climate change instead of regurgitating what European Union scaremongers want us to believe the "Cry Wolf" do-gooders without solid scientific evidence.
Citing evidence of Fiji PM Bainimarma and the late Tongan PM 'Akilisi Pohiva shows how butt-kissing Mr. Pareti and his magazine are really doing in the Pacific. Bainimarama suppresses freedom of the press in Fiji, and so did the late Tongan PM Pohiva.