新西兰英语 169 John Key’s visit to the Pacific

　　Last week, John Key visited four Pacific Island countries: Tonga, Samoa, Niue and the Cook Islands. He spent one day in each country.
New Zealand gives financial aid to each of these countries and one reason for the visit was to find out what each country needs. When John Key was in Tonga, he told the King of Tonga that New Zealand would increase the financial aid from $12 million last year to $16 million this year. The money is mostly for tourism and police.
In Samoa, aid will increase from $10.5 million to $14 million next year. This money is for education and health but also for training the New Zealand army in Samoa.
Niue, like Samoa, has a special relationship with New Zealand although it has its own government. New Zealand feels responsible¹ for helping² the 1,000 people who live there. Last year the New Zealand government gave $21.5 million. Some of this money was for a new hospital and power station.
The Cook Islands received $11 million last year from New Zealand and this year we will give $14 million. The money is to help businesses and tourism. John Key promised financial aid for Air New Zealand flights which bring tourists from LA to the Cook Islands. Another important agreement was to exchange tax information so that New Zealand businesses cannot hide money in the Cook Islands. This has happened in the past.
Countries which hide money so that people do not pay tax are called tax havens³. The President of the United⁴ States wants to close down tax havens. Our government would like to do this also.

1 responsible   

adj.有责任的，应负责的；可靠的，可信赖的；责任重大的；vi.休息，睡；静止，停止

参考例句：

• He must be responsible to me for this matter.这件事他必须对我负责。
• The police are responsible for the preservation of law and order.警察负责维持法律与秩序。

2 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

3 havens   

n.港口，安全地方( haven的名词复数 )v.港口，安全地方( haven的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Your twenty havens would back out at the last minute anyhow. 你那二十个避难所到了最后一分钟也要不认帐。 来自辞典例句
• Using offshore havens to avoid taxes and investor protections. 使用海面的港口避免税和投资者保护。 来自互联网

4 united   

adj.和谐的；团结的；联合的，统一的

参考例句：

• The whole nation is closely united.全国人民紧密团结。
• The two men were united by community of interests.共同的利益使两个人结合在一起。