"Mutton flaps and turkey tails:" Exploring the interconnections and contradictions between New Zealand aid, trade and the health of Samoa

Abstract

Sustainable Development is the catchphrase of the dominant development paradigm. The popularity of the term is illustrated in the widespread adoption of the term as a goal of government and international aid agencies alike. Unsurprisingly then, "sustainable development" is one of the primary goals of New Zealand Official Development Assistance (NZODA). One of the basic premises of "sustainable development" is that 'alternative worldviews' should be incorporated into the development process. Thus, in this thesis I explore the extent to which NZODA incorporates the viewpoint of alternative viewpoints in their development strategies. Specifically, I ascertain the meaning of sustainable development for women in a Samoan village and compare this with NZODA's and the Samoan Government's definitions of sustainable development. I utilise an ecofeminist perspective which highlights the connection between human oppression and environmental degradation. This perspective also emphasises the importance of enhancing cultural and ecological diversity in strategies which aim to abet the sustainable development process. By employing health, and specifically Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), as the main indicator of sustainability, I highlight the contradictions inherent in NZODA strategies of "sustainable development". In addition, I argue that non-economic concerns, such as women's unpaid work and the environment must be included in measures of development for sustainable development to be realised.