MEDIA ADVISORY 16 May 2003


"I am disgusted with the Governments failure to move towards the internationally recognised goal of allocating 0.7% of Gross National Income (GNI) to overseas aid" said the Executive Director of the Council for International Development, Rae Julian. "While the $20 million increase in the overseas aid and development budget is welcome, it does not enhance our reputation as a generous nation," she said.

Budgeted overseas aid for 2003-04 is now $245 million, a raw 9% increase over the previous year. But in spite of this increase, New Zealand's commitment to overseas aid continues to languish at around 0.23% of GNI - well short of the recommended 0.7% and well below most other OECD countries (New Zealand is 17th out of the 22 OECD donor countries). "Being towards the bottom of the table" "is nothing to be proud of. In fact we should be ashamed," said Ms Julian. 

"Steady as she goes is simply not good enough. Given that New Zealand has made a commitment to increasing its contribution toward the internationally accepted goal of 0.7%, it's time to show that we mean business and that we are taking those commitments seriously" said Ms Julian. 

New Zealand has stood on the world stage and pledged its support to working toward the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. "It is important for richer countries, like New Zealand, to increase aid levels to help bring about poverty elimination in developing countries. I think most New Zealanders accept that" she said.

"While the extra money is a modest step forward, it is encouraging to see that the government has signaled that its forecast finances are in a healthy state and that it intends to introduce some new initiatives next year. I hope, for the sake of people struggling to survive in some of the poorest areas of the world, that some of this projected surplus will find its way into New Zealand's aid commitment. This will demonstrate that New Zealanders are serious about fulfilling our international obligations," Ms Julian said.

ENDS

For information or to talk with Rae Julian, please call: 
+64 4 472 6375 (wk)  +64 4 499 8975 (a/h)  +64 21 189 0666.

Email:

rae.julian@cid.org.nz

CID website:

http://www.cid.org.nz