[asia-apec 928] The $45 million millstone

[Gatt Watchdog]

>From Weekend Herald, Auckland, 28-29 November 1998

The $45 million millstone

Negative headlines erupting out of last week's dismal Apec summit in Kuala
Lumpur have got Wellington worried.  With next year's summit in Auckland just
10 months away, Foreign Minister Don McKinnon is trying hard to convince that
some good came from this year's fiasco.  The Government long ago
hired some public relations consultants to "sell" Apec and massage
sceptical Aucklanders into accepting the disruption that will
occur.  But the "Apec is good for you" startegy has been derailed
by squabbling and paroxysms in Kuala Lumpur, making the economic
grouping look about as dynamic as a two-toed sloth.  If next
year's talkfest is as ineffectual taxpayers will be pondering just
a month or two out from the election why they forked out $45
million for the pleasure of hosting the whole shebang.