The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon Murray McCully, has been starting to talk about the new Government’s plans for NZAID. His proposals have been causing concern among those involved with development programmes.
Mr McCully has made it clear that he considers many of the existing programmes to be a waste of time and money. In line with National’s free-enterprise philosophy, he sees the promotion of trade as the best response to global poverty. He says the solution to poverty in the Pacific Island nations is to promote economic growth through increased trade with New Zealand.
He also wants to see aid budgets used to promote and reinforce New Zealand's foreign affairs policies. To this end he wants to see NZAID absorbed back into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT).
Aid should not be used as a foreign policy tool. Aid asks the question "What can we do to help you?" Foreign affairs policy asks "How can we promote New Zealand's own interests?" NZAID was set up as a separate organisation precisely to be transparent about this difference. The agency has established a good reputation for 'best practice' aid and development policy. Let's not lose this.
Poverty elimination and sustainable economic development should never be painted as opposites. Health and good education are prerequisites for economic development. Trade by itself does not solve poverty issues unless it can be targeted to be specifically pro-poor. Changing Pacific Island trade deficits will require a significant change to New Zealand's trade policies.
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Development organisations have started a campaign to persuade the government not to go down the path of the changes proposed by Mr McCully. Read about it, and join the campaign here...
We commit ourselves, as followers of Jesus, to work together for the holistic transformation of our communities, to pursue justice, be passionate about kindness and to walk humbly with God.
We call on international and national decision-makers of both rich and poor nations, to fulfil their public promise to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and so halve absolute global poverty by 2015.
We call on Christians everywhere to be agents of hope for and with the poor, and to work with others to hold our national and global leaders accountable in securing a more just and merciful world.
The issues of global poverty are not just economic. They are political and spiritual. Micah Challenge invites Christians to take a prophetic role in making a difference in the world.
