Doing more to help the desperate

Never before have I seen such desperation - and this many deaths - as refugee families do just about anything to secure a safer life for themselves. FILE PHOTO

I ALWAYS regard it as an endorsement of our journalism at the Times-Age when the national press, particularly TV, takes up a story we've been running. A good example is Monday's Seven Sharp episode on Masterton Right Wing Resistance leader Vaughan Tocker.

Some newsrooms might call it hijacking your story.

I call it a compliment to our good work.

It is one of those stories where TV succeeds so well with imagery, to portray how jarring the sight is of profoundly disaffected men in black SS-stylised uniforms parading on the streets.

It was a nice touch to have the interview conducted by the excellent Jehan Casinader, of Sri Lankan heritage.

It's practically a sight gag, with Casinader immaculate, young and well-spoken, but notably dark-skinned, calmly and politely interviewing old white men with racist beliefs.

Thankfully, our society has evolved to the point where groups like these, with ideals so out of kilter with a functioning community, will never gain any traction.

But has our country evolved enough in terms of the assistance we give to refugees?

Never before have I seen such desperation - and this many deaths - as refugee families do just about anything to secure a safer life for themselves.

This country accepts 750 refugees a year.

We can't solve the problems of the world, but we can do a lot better than that.

What families in Africa and Europe and Asia are doing, in crossing borders and embarking on boats that are little more than death-traps, are taking on a journey with a pretty high chance of death.

If a family is that motivated to survive and reach out for something better, can you imagine what they could do if they were given a chance, in a country safe from fear?

New Zealand is a product of its pioneers, principally Maori, European, Asian, who embarked on journeys and became strong and successful because of that adversity. We're not taking a chance with refugees.

It's a sure thing.

We can do better.