Media Statement
Sunday, 29 April 2001
Oxfam report welcomed
Education is one of the keys to the future of the Pacific, Associate Foreign Affairs Minister (Responsible for
Development Aid) Matt Robson said today.
He welcomed an Oxfam New Zealand report Basic Education and Pacific Peoples, released today. It stresses the importance
of basic education in the South Pacific.
Matt Robson said he had just received a major independent review of New Zealand's Overseas Development Assistance.
"The Oxfam report is a well-researched contribution and will be a useful supplement to the independent review. Both will
help the Government to set its directions for aid.
"Education is a fundamentally important sector for development aid. New Zealand also places a strong emphasis on
eliminating poverty, and programmes such as a mobile health clinic for Samoa that I launched last week.
"It is important to get the balance of these programmes right.
"I am pleased that Oxfam has applauded the level of aid New Zealand provides to the South Pacific for education and I
will consider its report carefully," Matt Robson said.
ENDS