New Zealand's Islands

New Zealand has islands with three political statuses:

1. Islands which are part of New Zealand, for example:

• Chatham Islands



Danger! Piglet crossing near Port Hutt on Chatham Island.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2004.)

• Kapiti Island



Kapiti Island.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2004.)

• North Island

• Quail Island



Quail Island in Lyttelton Harbour.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2003.)

• South Island

• Stewart Island

2. Full self-government in free association with New Zealand:

• Cook Islands

• Niue

3. Self-administering territory of New Zealand (but moving towards self-governance in free association with New Zealand):

• Tokelau

New Zealand's Responsibility to Pacific Island Vulnerability

Kelman, I. 2004. "Responsibility to Pacific Island Risk Management?". RiskPost: The Newsletter of the New Zealand Society for Risk Management, issue 4, no. 2 (August), pp. 8-9.

New Zealand's fascinating, beautiful, and dynamic physical geography produces an ideal setting for investigating and understanding how humanity's decisions and behaviour create disasters from normal environmental phenomena such as earthquakes, rivers overflowing, volcanic activity, rainfall, and fog. The consequences include internationally-renowned research, policy, and practice in New Zealand related to living sustainably with nature.

As well, New Zealand's position in the South Pacific, plus being a country comprising relatively small islands, leads to strong links with and interests in the international island community. Aside from New Zealand's history of involvement in Pacific island affairs, two island countries, the Cook Islands and Niue, are self-governing territories in free association with New Zealand, while Tokelau is a self-administering territory moving towards self-governance in free association with New Zealand.

New Zealand contributes extensively to programmes for managing risks on Pacific islands, not only through emergency relief aid and peace-keeping, but also in terms of vulnerability reduction programmes, long-term development, and education. NZAID provides more than one-third of the core budget of SOPAC, which is the lead Pacific island agency for disaster and risk management, in addition to funds for activities outside the normal budget. Similarly, many Pacific islanders travel to New Zealand for secondary and tertiary education, often supported by programmes funded by New Zealand's government.

The links are clear, as are the historical and geographical reasons for these links. Does an additional factor exist, that of responsibility?

Does a moral imperative exist for New Zealand's involvement in Pacific small island risk management, most likely due to history and proximity? It is perhaps unfair, inappropriate, and going too far to suggest that the Pacific islands have a fundamental right to assistance from New Zealand for risk management. But how far does NZAID's motto "towards a safe and just world" permit the interpretation that obligations, not simply voluntary opportunities, exist for New Zealand (beyond NZAID and MFAT) to be involved in increasing safety and justice in the Pacific region?

Of course, the impetus for being extensively involved in small island risk management could be selfish. Safe and stable neighbours naturally enhance New Zealand's safety and stability, even considering the large distances between Pacific states. Little fault could be found with implementing appropriate disaster and development aid out of self-interest.

Nonetheless, in today's global village, less affluent states are increasingly making demands on more affluent states for equity and justice--followed by demands for resources and support to achieve equity and justice. New Zealand frequently obliges and is respected for doing so. Are New Zealand's contributions due to only internal, generous choice or is New Zealand required to do so from an obligation to Pacific island risk management? If that responsibility does not exist, should it exist and be made explicit?

The Beehive, the Executive Wing of New Zealand's government, in Wellington:
Does and should New Zealand have a responsibility to reduce other islands' vulnerability?
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2004.)

Some Photographs

Pukeko.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2004.)

Greetings from a Friendly, Native Kiwi!
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2004.)

Southern Alps.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2003.)

Contemplating Wellington.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2004.)

Shag Flying.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2004.)

Rainbow Over Lake Te Anau.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2004.)

Christchurch Flower.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2003.)

Climbing Ben Lomond.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2004.)

Oystercatchers and Gull.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2004.)

Risk-taking in Queenstown: Why not Use the Safety Bar? The Hardhats Won't Help.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2004.)

Jetboating: More risk-taking in (near) Queenstown? Or only the perception thereof?
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2004.)

Raglan Beach, North Island.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2005.)

Fountain in Christchurch.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2003.)

Arthur's Pass.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2003.)

Oystercatcher Flying.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2004.)

The Southern Cross Viewed from Lower Hutt.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2004.)

Drought on South Island: A Dry River Bed.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2003.)

National Crisis Management Centre below the Beehive in Wellington.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2004.)

Aoraki Mount Cook, New Zealand's Highest Point Above Sea Level.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2004.)

Sunset Over Lake Te Anau: It's a Duck's Life.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2004.)

Some Resources