Back Benches 7 September 2011
THIS WEEK ON BACK BENCHES … WALLACE CHAPMAN, DAMIAN CHRISTIE, THE BACK BENCHES PANEL AND SPECIAL GUESTS DISCUSS THE WEEK’S HOTTEST TOPICS.
CHRISTCHURCH REBUILD … A year since the first Christchurchearthquake and a lot has been accomplished but what more needs to be done? Is the rebuild of Christchurch happening as quickly as it should and what about the people of Bexley? The EQC has a huge number of claims to deal with plus their reserves are exhausted with the Government saying repairing Christchurch will cost double the original estimates. Will the new city look completely different and what time frame are we talking about?
PACIFIC FORUM … Starts Wednesday in Auckland. It’s the 40th anniversary with the first one taking place in Auckland in 1971. Prime Minister John Key says he’ll be “absolutely stunned” if Pacific Island leaders have changed their position on Fiji. Over the weekend a number of leaders expressed support for Fiji wanting its membership of the Pacific Forum restored. In the past New Zealand and Australia have been accused of being bullies … is that valid? Would it be more effective to keep Fiji within the forum? The other big issue is Climate change. United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon is warning if nothing is done the islands of the pacific face economic and social instability. Is this the real worry the ocean waves that are more dangerous than any army? Is New Zealand doing enough? A number of Islands could disappear will a lot more Pacific people be coming here to live?
Join us for a night of LIVE pub politics from the Back Bencher pub: Wednesday 7th of September. Our Panel … Rahui Katene Maori Party, Labour’s Stuart Nash and Jacqui Dean from National.
Back Benches screens on TVNZ 7 Wednesdays at 9.05pm with encore screenings on Thursdays at 9.05am and 1.05pm, Saturdays at 10.05pm, Sundays at 10.05am and 2.05pm