Why using the "first world" and "third world" terminology is not in?

Few in New Zealand - including some sections of the media - still use the terminology of "1st" and "3rd" world, when the rest of the world has moved on with using the terms such as "developed" and "developing" world. They probably don't realise that terms like 1st and 3rd are an endorsement of an international hierarchy of countries, indicating a strong evolutionist bias for achieving Western levels of economic growth as the ultimate goal. But, who is to say which country is part of the "1st" world and which should still be stigmatised as the "3rd" world? Certainly not this newspaper.

(picture courtesy Joy Kochakkan/ JK images): The fires on Port Hills started from two different locations on February 13, and later merged. Status as on almost a week later, February 20, early morning, was that the fire covered an area of 2075 hectares. The perimeter was about 35km. Approximately 69% of this was confirmed as controlled. During the week, hundreds were evacuated and the number of confirmed destroyed structures stood at 11 houses and two large sheds. The City also lost a war hero Steve Askin, when his helicopter crashed on the Hills during the fire fighting efforts. 

Firstly my apologies for missing out on the last issue. Our team was still in the holiday mood and some things are just unavoidable. But we are back in February, with the newspaper on track to publish every alternate Wednesday henceforth.

Few things have happened since the last time we talked. Most notably, the US has a new President. With all the sentimental send offs that Barack Obama got, somebody forgot to point out that maybe, just maybe, he should have done more for blue collar America. How disfranchised did they felt that they had to elect somebody like Trump as their leader?

New Zealand will have its own general election in eight months time, and immigration will prove to be a hot-button issue, no doubt. My wish is that we come out much saner and wiser after September 23, than what our friends in US did!

"Learn from What We Eat" Programme

On Sunday November 27, 2016, the first cooking session of the ongoing seminar series “Learn from What We Eat” (LfWWE) took place at the Hagley College, Christchurch. The project is kindly funded by the Tindall Foundation.

New Zealand has a problem. Look at pages eight and nine, and you will know what I mean. We can debate the reasons. Shortage of labour inspectors. Lax laws. Inefficient regulations. Not very strict enforcement. The list goes on. But what is not debatable is that the Employment Relations Authority (ERA), quite frequently these days, passes orders punishing employers for exploiting migrant workers in one way or the other. Hopefully, the substantial fines imposed in ERA judgements will act as future deterrent.

This issue is dedicated to New Zealand's long and glorious democratic history. We are having local government elections all across the country and this newspaper appeals to all its readers and the wider community to exercise their democratic right to vote. Voting percentage being less than 50 per cent when there is a postal ballet is certainly not a very desirable situation.

We start this issue with Andrew Little's reply to the questions the Prime Minister raised for the Opposition in his interview published in our issue 5. Apart from the usual politics around the issue, we do need some sensible debate on why, how much, and what kind of immigration is needed in New Zealand. Hopefully the Parliament will take the lead on this, and show us the way!

This newspaper is just about starting its journey. This is our fifth issue and we are yet to complete two months of publishing. But in our very short life-span, we have discovered one thing already. When you talk to Mayors, ministers, and even the Prime Minister, everyone is clear on one thing. “Migration has huge economic benefits to New Zealand.”

How migration affects the economy. That’s the question. Isn’t it? While this newspaper will be bringing various takes on this by our policy makers and market watchers in future, we start with a very good explanation by reserve bank officials on page six.

At the outset, we must acknowledge that our decision to not publish journalist bylines in this newspaper has been inspired by one of the hugely respected current affairs publication of our times, The Economist.

Everything starts with an idea. Then over time, that idea becomes a reality. In between, we have the mandatory ups and downs, the surety and doubts.

Welcome to our inaugural issue of The Migrant Times.

We have some good news. After months of planning, we at the Canterbury Migrants Centre - yes, that's our new name - are pleased to announce the launch our fortnightly newspaper The Migrant Times (TMT).