24 May 2001

Pacific business boosted

The Pacific Business Trust gets a $500,000 increase in the budget.

Pacific Island Affairs Minister Mark Gosche said the new funding would help the trust assist Pacific businesses nationwide and focus on skills unique to Pacific people, particularly in design, fashion and the arts.

"Pacific art is a dynamic, unique and growing sector whose artists need support and advice.

"The Government's commitment to help develop Pacific businesses shows that we are prepared to lead economic and social transformation throughout communities to build a stronger economy, society and future for all New Zealanders," Mr Gosche said.

The Pacific Business Trust is an Auckland-based crown entity that provides low-interest loans and business development advice to Pacific businesses and scholarships for young people.

ENDS

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>