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Background: Pacific Development Budget Controversy
Scoop Coverage: Budget Money For Pacific Economic Development Agency
[Background follows]
Funding allocated for economic development in Pacific communities in Budget 2010 seems to have become subject to controversy within the Government as well as outside it.
In the original budget announcement, Pacific Island Minister Georgina te Heuheu said $4.8 million over the next four years to the Pacific Island Economic Development Agency (PEDA). Pacific.Scoop reports on the debate over this untendered allocation of funds to an unknown organisation. Questions have been raised in Parliament over the quality of the application, the process, and advice against it from the Ministry.
Bill English has defended the allocation in Parliament as a community initiative that should be supported and "not one dollar will be paid out unless all the accountability is met".
The Herald now reports that Bill English's office has backed further from the allocation, saying it is not specifically allocated to PEDA:
… a spokesman for Finance Minister Bill English told the Herald last night that Mrs te Heuheu "went too far" and the money referred to was a general allocation for Pacific development.
The allocation is summarised in the budget as "A total of $1 million supporting Economic Development programmes run in Auckland."
However, Scoop would like to refer Mr English's office to part 2.2 of the Information Supporting the Estimates of Appropriation 2010/11 (starting p184, or p10 of PDF). This lists an allocation of $1 million (excludes monitoring costs) per year for four years for services from the "Pacific Economic Development Agency".
You're welcome.
Background
Latest:
Untendered Contracts: Why Was PEDA Funded?
The Minister
of Pacific Island Affairs Georgina te Heuheu has some
explaining to do after reports today that she ignored advice
of “great risks” in awarding nearly $5 million to a
company in this year’s Budget, Labour’s Associate
Pacific Island Affairs spokesperson said. More>>
ALSO:
- Questions and Answers - 17 June 2010
- Labour - Flimsy PEDA bid gets English sign-off
- PacificEyeWitness.com Out-Link - Debate Silenced at Radio 531pi; Efeso Collins Abruptly Removed
Pacific.Scoop: New Zealand: Govt’s $4.8
Million Package For Pacific EDA Questioned
Looks
like you need to get the blurb yourself. Probably best to do
that irrespective, actually. More>>
ALSO:
- Labour - te Heu Heu all over the show on PEDA
- Labour - Who is really behind the PEDA stitch up?
- Labour - te Heu Heu continues to dodge crucial questions
- Labour - te Heu Heu Failing To Explain PEDA Funding
- Labour - te Heu Heu’s “answers” spark more questions
Tendering Any? $4.8 Million For... Who?
New funding
announced by the government will help to focus attention on
priorities for Pacific people, says the head of the Pacific
Economic Development Agency, JR Pereira. More>>
ALSO:
- NZ Govt - Economic development boost for Pacific people
- Labour - Transparency needed around Pacific Island funding
- PacificEyeWitness.com Out-Link - NZ Budget 2010 Pacific: Who is Pacific Economic Development Agency Ltd?
- PacificEyeWitness.com Out-Link - Pacific Radio Host Questions MP on Pacific Economic Development 'Agency'
- PacificEyeWitness.com Out-Link - NZ Budget 2010: Documents Download
- Public Address Out-Link - Hard News: Chicken Soup
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