Yesterday, ARENA (Action Research & Education Network of Aotearoa) published a study by Bill Rosenberg entitled

Globalisation by Stealth - The proposed New Zealand-Hong Kong Free Trade Agreement and investment

With a preface by Jane Kelsey, the study looks at the investment relationships between Hong Kong and New Zealand. It uncovers multi-billion financial transfers to New Zealand for "tax minimisation purposes". The strange "intermediary" relationship Hong Kong plays with China is analysed; again avoidance of taxes and tariffs are primary drivers. It finds that -

The New Zealand and Hong Kong governments are currently engaged in "exploratory talks" with the aim of negotiating a free trade and investment agreement (FTIA).

Though the government has failed to release any details of what is proposed to the public, this paper finds that if such an agreement is based on the recently ratified Singapore-New Zealand Closer Economic Partnership (SNZCEP), an existing Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (IPPA), and the WTO, it presents the following dangers to New Zealand, among others:

· Destruction of the remaining textiles, clothing and footwear industry

· Litigation by investors in closed international tribunals against the effects

and existence of laws and regulations that protect our environment and economic development, resulting in multi-million dollar compensation payments and possible reversal of local and central government policies.

· Further pressure to commercialise our social services such as education,

health, public broadcasting, waste disposal and water.

· Further constraints on the use of central and local government procurement to

encourage economic development.

· Growing constraints on local government in all these areas.

· Encouragement of large short term international capital movements, and further loss of the control of capital movements and foreign investment which are

essential to develop New Zealand's economy and protect ownership of land and fishing quota.

The paper is available from ARENA in book form: contact

ARENA Action Research & Education Network of Aotearoa P O Box 2450 Christchurch Phone: (03) 381 2951 Fax (03) 3668035 Email: arena.nz@clear.net.nz Web page: www.arena.org.nz

Alternatively, it is available on CAFCA's web site http://canterbury.cyberplace.org.nz/community/CAA but ARENA (and CAFCA!) would appreciate a donation to continue the work.

© Scoop Media

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>>