KEY POINTS:
I was standing in the U Call telecom shop in Nuku'alofa, Tonga, not long ago when I read the text from my workmate saying that Steve Maharey is going to be Vice-Chancellor of Massey University.
The woman behind the counter must have thought I had won Lotto.
It's not the
fact that Maharey will be going, it's that the Herald was right in July when we said the language of his denials still left his options open.
Forgive me a moment's gloating.
This will have been a big decision for Maharey given his potential in Labour's succession options.
He is of the party's Left faction - don't buy the spin that the factions no longer exist - they don't until it comes to choosing cabinets and leaders.
Maharey may well be the favourite in today's caucus to replace Helen Clark next term if Labour loses. But there is no guarantee what numbers the Left would muster next term to muscle out Phil Goff. And Goff is the public's favourite.
It also pretty hard to see Maharey relishing what is often referred to as the hardest job in politics - of Leader of the Opposition. Being Leader of the Opposition means living and breathing the job 25 hours a day.
It is easy to see Goff relishing the hardest job - with Annette King or Trevor Mallard as short-term deputies until someone such as Andrew Little from the Engineers Union is ready to step up.
I suspect Maharey's decision may also be related to him having a fresh start in a new relationship after the death of his wife, Liz McKay, from cancer some years ago.
I have been in Nukua'lofa covering the Pacific Islands Forum which is into its "post-forum dialogue" phase with it 14 partners or what I would call the lolly scramble phase.
The European Union yesterday announced its plan to spend about $NZ550 million in the region over the five years.
The Taiwan-China diplomacy wars have heated up today.
I'm now off to a press conference China has just called following Taiwan's meeting today with the six PI countries that recognise it, at which Vice Foreign Minister Katherine Chang accused China of chequebook diplomacy.
It has been a difficult forum to cover as a journalist, many of the journalists would say. As one Melanesian journalist said today, he cannot recall any forum like this where he has been "treated like a criminal."
But that is not a reflection on the people of Tonga, many of whom have been incredibly warm and hospitable. I was in the U Call centre because I was returning a sim card to a staff member there. She had lent me her spare one two days ago - insisting on saving the Herald $25 - while they tried to find out what was preventing me using my cellphone.
Malo Fatima.
