Media Release

14 May 2006

Congratulations and well done, Winston Peters!

Today’s Budget announcement of an increase in international aid is a very real step towards achieving our international goal of giving 0.7 percent of gross national income in aid by 2015.

The Council for International Development says the announcement of an increase in overseas aid to 0.35 percent of GNI by 2010 is the most significant increase in recent years.

The Council’s Executive Director, Rae Julian, says she congratulates Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters who she says was no doubt instrumental in achieving this very welcome result.

“This is a big step forward and is certainly getting New Zealand closer to our goal.”

“It is what the NGO community has been asking the Government to do for some time now and we will be looking forward to having discussions with the Minister about how to reach the overall goal of giving 0.7 percent of GNI to aid.”

“We have no doubt that the increased level of aid can be effectively and efficiently used and that it will go towards real and sustainable long term development, particularly in the Pacific.”

Until now New Zealand, at just 0.27 percent of GNI, has been near the bottom of the OECD in the amount of aid we give compared to our national income. But today’s announcement of an increase in this year’s Budget to 0.30 percent means that we will now equal Australia which has had significant increases in recent years.

Today’s Budget announcement also means that by 2010 we will be half way towards the internationally-agreed goal of giving 0.7 percent in aid by 2015.

In 2000, New Zealand was one of 189 countries that signed up to the Millennium Development Goals to significantly reduce global poverty by 2015. To achieve those goals developed countries, such as New Zealand, need to give 0.7 percent of GNI in aid by 2015.

ENDS

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