Press Release Released 10th March 2009

Online relaunch in line with Minister’s wishes

The Hon Murray McCully, Minister of Foreign Affairs recently stated that he intends to absorb NZAID, the New Zealand International Aid and Development Agency back into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and tie all aid to foreign policy.

Mr MCully stated that poverty elimination will no longer be the mandate of NZAID. Frankly, given everything that’s going on in the world, that’s a relief. At least for us in New Zealand.

International experience tells us that aid used in this manner becomes a political football; used as sweeteners for trade talks, or even better, as a weapon to coerce nations into doing what we want them to do. So with this change, we are pleased to become a real international player in encouraging poverty and terror throughout the third world.

The Government intends to do this with no public scrutiny, no select committee and no consultation.

New Zealand likes to pride itself on being a responsible international citizen and upholder of fundamental human rights. Mr McCully has signaled a bold new direction away from such tomfoolery to flexing our regional economic muscle.

We love to service our minister, so in line with the Minister of Foreign Affairs new and exciting ideas about how to use our aid dollars, we are proud to launch the new website: www.nzaid.net

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