Craig Ashton is an expert in taxation and financial management from Hamilton, New Zealand.
New Zealand’s Craig Ashton is a senior tax investigator working within the Solomon Islands Inland Revenue Division in the Ministry of Finance.
RAMSI’s support in this area is funded by New Zealand, and has played an important role in re-establishing core revenue streams. From Hamilton in New Zealand, Craig is responsible for conducting tax investigations on business operators, a tough job in an environment where business has previously operated with very little scrutiny.
With 20 years of experience in taxation and financial management, Craig has brought to the Solomons a variety of skills that he hopes to pass on to his local colleagues during his time in the Solomons.
“Passing on these complex skills, particularly for this type of work, can be difficult given the limited resources available,” says Craig.
“However, there is a wonderful willingness in my counterparts to develop their skills, and this presents
me with a unique experience that I simply could not have at home.”
Craig’s skills are also being put to good use away from the office. Having retired in 1997 from playing rugby, Craig is training once again after a Solomon Islands colleague introduced him to Honiara’s thriving rugby scene.
Having been appointed fitness trainer and assistant coach for the local team, Luapel, Craig is quick to point out that his team has gone on to score a string of impressive victories.
Private Dion Netana-Nathan, from Ngapuhi in New Zealand’s North Island, is a proud member of RAMSI’s military contingent.
Private Dion Netana-Nathan, from Ngapuhi in New Zealand’s North Island, is a proud member of RAMSI’s military contingent.
Having served with the New Zealand Armed Forces for over four years, Private Netana-Nathan is now participating in his first overseas mission as part of RAMSI.
Like many of his fellow Australian, Tongan and Papua New Guinean solders serving as part of RAMSI’s military contingent, Private Netana-Nathan is a ‘reservist’, meaning he serves part-time with the military and holds another job in his life back home.
His profession is as a Physical Conditioner, helping to strengthen and prepare professional rugby players for the punishment that their bodies receive on the field. This job has seen him work in Australia and New Zealand with a number of elite rugby teams.
Prior to his career in physical conditioning, Private Netana-Nathan had spent a number of years throughout the world, including playing professional rugby in Japan and England. He believes this experience gave him valuable experience in understanding differences in cultures, something he says is critical to his work in Solomon Islands.
“It’s great to be able to work on patrols throughout the country, and have the opportunity to meet so many people from different walks of life,” said Private Netana-Nathan. “And having the ability to be open-minded and look at another person’s point of view – it is obviously critical to this job.”
Private Netana-Nathan, who is of Maori heritage, is one of the New Zealand military’s leaders when it performs the haka, the famous pre-battle ceremony that is of enormous importance to New Zealand culture. He believes that his pride in his Maori heritage has played an important part in the connections he has made with the Solomon Islanders he has met as part of his work with RAMSI.
“There are many similarities in our customs; our respect for thousand-year old traditions, our British colonial history, and our shared Pacific feelings.”
“It is something that I’ve really noticed in our work in patrols; people seem to want to talk – to stori – with us,” he said. “People want to share the experience of interacting with people from another culture. It’s a great thing to be a part of.”