Key announces aid boost for Tonga... WTF?

**Drogen Omen** · 8th July 2009, 16:33

I wonder how much Australia donats to Tonga... Not that Tonga is the only country we give money too...

But Australia has a larger population than us so naturaly you would think they would give twice as much $$$ as us. say $30milion...

**Mr Merde** · 8th July 2009, 16:40

Originally Posted by Drogen Omen

I wonder how much Australia donats to Tonga... Not that Tonga is the only country we give money too...

But Australia has a larger population than us so naturaly you would think they would give twice as much $$$ as us. say $30milion...

We are giving approx $4 per person in NZ.

If Australia were to donate at such a rate it would be much greater.

Not sure of the population of Australia

At a guess 25 million

That means to be donating at a similar rate they would have to give $100,000,000.

TUI MOMENT

**avgas** · 8th July 2009, 16:47

Bullshit i know, but its true.
Just yesterday i was talking to a good friend of mine - he had spent the weekend doing habitat for humanity.
It really stuck with me - who the fuck in NZ needs a house BUILT for them. Fuck for many years of my life we lived in a converted cowshed.
I can justify H4H in places like india and Peru.......but NZ HAS A BENEFIT SYSTEM. If you cant afford to buy a house, live like the rest of us.
Seems my pride is worth about NZ$2M because that is what i'm missing out on by studying/working/looking for better work.......trying harder everyday to do things better in my life.
Whats your pride worth? - and when will you give in and just become another bludger for people to help?

**wbks** · 8th July 2009, 16:50

Originally Posted by Mr Merde

As the grandson\son of a soldiering family and as an ex soldier myself, I must admit to being ashamed of the state of our armed forces.

Yes the best thing that could be done is just to disaband them and save us from further embarrasment.

I can't really put it into too many words, and what I've just typed is only to get around the ten character limit, but...: Aye?!??

**Winston001** · 8th July 2009, 17:07

Originally Posted by Drogen Omen

I wonder how much Australia donats to Tonga... Not that Tonga is the only country we give money too...

Australia gave A$19.3 million in 08-09.

Australian population 21 million.

**Dave Lobster** · 8th July 2009, 18:46

Don't most of the tongans live here now anyway?

**Robert Taylor** · 8th July 2009, 18:49

Originally Posted by Drogen Omen

just one question... why are we giving money away when we cant even fix shit here...

So here's the thing...

but back here in little old NZ there is no aid support package... we have to have a Telethon to help our on country...!!! what the fuck is up with that...???

hmmm somethings not right here... our own government gives away $16million to aid a tinty island in the middle of nowhere, and the telethon wants to TRY and raise $2million to help 34,000 poor children... thats probably more than the whole population of Tonga... you know the Tongan kings just gona throw another million dollar birthday party with the money like he did last year.

moral of the story... governments are idiots and we are idiots for thinking they will do good things with our tax money.

Yes its a very big concern but Chinese influence is steadily widening in the South Pacific region. I do not wish that we one day will be slaves to that regime, if we are not already.
If we dont help them China will throw money at them, simple as that.

**Robert Taylor** · 8th July 2009, 18:52

Originally Posted by Mr Merde

As the grandson\son of a soldiering family and as an ex soldier myself, I must admit to being ashamed of the state of our armed forces.

Yes the best thing that could be done is just to disaband them and save us from further embarrasment.

Im the same, the bitch who had control for 9 years disbanded our Air Strike Force. That is her biggest single crime and she should hang for it.

**Winston001** · 8th July 2009, 19:51

Originally Posted by avgas

Just yesterday i was talking to a good friend of mine - he had spent the weekend doing habitat for humanity.
It really stuck with me - who the fuck in NZ needs a house BUILT for them.

Fuck for many years of my life we lived in a converted cowshed.
I can justify H4H in places like india and Peru.......but NZ HAS A BENEFIT SYSTEM. If you cant afford to buy a house, live like the rest of us.

Yeah understand why you say that. I'm involved with Habitat for Humanity and FWIW your point was discussed by some of us just the other day. I've volunteered in India and you are absolutely right - we don't know what poverty is in NZ.

However, the sort of families Habitat helps in NZ do fall below the government/benefit help line. Plus.....they aren't your average family. Autistic children, illiteracy, one lady I can think of just got her drivers licence at 38, never had a car in her family before. Decent people who are invisible to the rest of us.

**ynot slow** · 8th July 2009, 21:10

Why give the islands the dough,isn't the capital of Tonga,Samoa,Nuie and Raro called Auckland.

**twistemotion** · 8th July 2009, 22:14

Originally Posted by Robert Taylor

Yes its a very big concern but Chinese influence is steadily widening in the South Pacific region. I do not wish that we one day will be slaves to that regime, if we are not already.
If we dont help them China will throw money at them, simple as that.

Exactly. NZ and OZ have to keep China from taking control of the island nations, and unfortunately it means giving substantial aid. China is ready and very willing to give "aid" anywhere to get a foothold. It's happening in Africa where they're building roads and other infrastructure at their cost and then shipping natural resources away.

**mynameis** · 8th July 2009, 23:55

Originally Posted by Robert Taylor

Yes its a very big concern but Chinese influence is steadily widening in the South Pacific region. I do not wish that we one day will be slaves to that regime, if we are not already.
If we dont help them China will throw money at them, simple as that.

Too true

+ 10 char

**James Deuce** · 9th July 2009, 07:29

Originally Posted by Robert Taylor

Yes its a very big concern but Chinese influence is steadily widening in the South Pacific region. I do not wish that we one day will be slaves to that regime, if we are not already.
If we dont help them China will throw money at them, simple as that.

Oh. My. Goodness.

China plays a very long game, and while the current dominant cultures of NZ probably won't survive the next 500 years, the change will be so gradual you and your grandchildren won't notice.