The islanders are poisoning themselves. Pacific Governments turn a blind eye to the hard issues and spend huge amounts of money on grand projects, the Government agencies in charge of environmental protection focus on global issues that require extensive international travel (forgetting about the fundamental issues at home that prop up their fragile tourism industries), the islanders keep putting in ineffective septic tanks, highly paid foreign consultants keep writing reports about what not to do, donor-countries take an age to activate clean-up programs and projects, the list goes on.

The islanders know exactly who the culprits are, but tradition and family connections prohibit them from speaking out and making a difference.

Jeez Bob, sounds like your more worried about someones holiday being ruined than the plight of the local people. The western way of living does not go down well in the islands. they do not have the infrastructure to deal with waste etc. I think in some parts of europe the manufacturer is responsible for the disposal of packaging etc. Maybe the companies getting rich on selling product to the islands should have more of a hand in waste management.

Don't get me started on French Nuclear waste also on our doorstep!

No doubt Bob Harvey is right about this, but considering the condition and pollution of the Waitemata Harbour, maybe he should be starting a lot closer to home.

Bob should stick to running west auckland, since when was he an expert on the south pacific?

The cost of 'progress'. Where's Greenpeace now? Where are their ships voluntaring to take the rubbish away for free so as to save these beautiful islands? Oh - they're running down ships in the Antarctic away out of site wjere they don't hae to 'get their hands dirty'!

Nothing new here. I went to Rarotonga on holiday in 1991 and wasn't on the beach 5 minutes before encountering a rusted engine block sticking up out of the sand. Further inland rubbish and rusting abandoned cars were in abundance if you ventured of the main roads.

It's easy to forget that not long ago many Pacific island nations were stone age cultures. The relatively sudden impact of a high consumerism Western culture and products is something they are not prepared for. Definite action needs to be taken before its too late.