Mar
3
2009

A Response to Comments from Murray McCully

The New Zealand Herald ran an article this morning on an issue that many in the NGO sector are aware of, namely a proposed shift in how the organisation that facilitates New Zealand government foreign aid is structured.

At the moment, the budget for foreign aid is facilitated through an entity called NZAid. I do not wish to go into the details of how NZAid is structured, its history and the proposed future, what I do want to address is two sentiments the Foreign Minister, Murray McCully, expressed in the article.

Mr McCully referred to the aim of “Poverty Elimination” as being too broad. He then referred to the current mode of distribution of foreign aid via NZAid as being a “hand out rather than a hand up”. With these two things in mind he was quoted as saying:

You could ride around in a helicopter pushing hundred-dollar notes out the door and call that poverty elimination.

This view is extremely simplistic and betrays a lack of understanding about how foreign aid is largely understood in New Zealand, especially within the ranks of NZAid and partner organisations like CiD (Council for International Development). My hunch is that Mr McCully is not that simplistic and is employing language and phrases that will endear the public towards whatever plan he has.

It is true that the aim of poverty elimination is broad, but it would be easy to note that the aim is broad because the problem is broad. To leave it at that though would betray the strict criteria by which foreign aid is distributed. No government organisation exists without criteria on how it will meet its objectives. NZAid has very strict principles by which it operates to achieve its mission. Joe Public can get a brief overview of this strict criteria by looking at the NZAid website.

On their website, amongst other things, you can view such things as:

  • International targets
  • Priorities
  • How aid is delivered
  • How they make aid work
  • Evaluation at NZAid

A cursory glance through the above will quickly reveal that NZAid’s broad mission is backed up by a strong foundation of best development practice.

Since its establishment in 2002, NZAid has done an outstanding job of focusing the money our government spends on foreign aid. It has reduced the number of projects our taxpayer dollars are engaged in and it has brought more effectiveness to every dollar spent.

New Zealand gives 0.3% of our GDP to foreign aid and development, we are still 0.4% short of our UN commitment to 0.7%. What many Kiwis might not be aware of is the fact that whilst that is all we give, our current structure means that our administration of that money is one of the most effective in the world. There are countries that give more than that, but because of how those funds are structured, the money is nowhere near as effective as the current NZAid system. For that reason, there are many in the development sector around the world who look at New Zealand with a certain amount of envy.

With the criteria of NZAid distribution of funds in mind, their use of best development practice, the recognised effectiveness of New Zealand aid as compared to other countries that give more, Mr McCully’s comment likening current practices to throwing money out of a helicopter simply falls short of the reality and can only find an audience within people who look no further than the sensationalism of such a comment. I trust that the New Zealand public is smarter than that.

To state that the use of the funds has become more like a hand out rather than a hand up is also simply reverting to populist language to further a predetermined cause. The current government effectively campaigned on reducing needless spending within government ranks. They broadcast the idea that the last government was wasting money and propping up people who did not need to be propped up. This may have been true in many instances, but the use of tax payer money through NZAid to assist in community development amongst the poorest of the poor around the world (with a focus on the Pacific region), was not one of those instances.

The current government, including Mr McCully would rightly have a high view of trade, but it is clear that the effect of trade only goes so far and in most instances it does not reach the poorest of the poor in the developing world because such people people are marginalized and have no way of accessing the positive flow on effects of global trade. Any approach to assisting the poor and marginalized must be two prong.

A common understanding of trade involves a “trickle down effect” where the benefits “trickle down” throughout society, but a good approach to development amongs the poorest of the poor must involve lifting them to a place where they can access that which “trickles down”. Thus trade and development go hand in hand. Good development, as undertaken by the current structure of NZAid does exactly that, it facilitates the lifting of communities and far from simply throwing money out of a helicopter in the hope that it might make a difference, it engages the best development practices currently available to us in order to move poor communities towards self sustainability. If it does not act as a “hand up” then it falls short of NZAid’s criteria.

In light of all this I urge the Minister to truly examine the effectiveness of development aid prior to the establishment of the current NZAid structure, compare it to now and rather than pursuing a pre-thought agenda, engage the sort of developmental approach that good NGOs operate under – assume ignorance on your part, listen to the community whom you will be working with, hear their solutions, find a common ground and resource an effective way forward. Don’t rely on simplistic understandings to inform change since lives around the world literally depend on this. Any impact analysis will reveal that change of any sort will have a negative impact on communities we are engaged with globally – are we willing to count the cost in actual human lives?

To the public, I urge you to go beyond the populist, simplistic, and sensationalistic speak that has a pre-thought agenda behind it and do the investigating. If you do so, you will find a robust system of foreign development and aid within the New Zealand structures, a system that is the envy of the world.

Frank Ritchie
Education and Campaigns Manager (TEAR Fund NZ)

Related Posts

About the Author: Frank Ritchie

Frank is the Education and Advocacy Manager for TEAR Fund NZ. Frank is a licensed Minister in the Wesleyan Methodist Church of New Zealand and has a keen interest in biblical perspectives of Justice and how this connects to service to, with and for the poor, disadvantaged and marginalized people of the world.

10 Comments + Add Comment

  • Mouse over the first few words of the article. ;)

  • So as I understand it.
    NZaid pretty much works with the NGOs in New Zealand such as TEARfund, Worldvision, Oxfam and CWS to which it dishes out the 0.3% tax. This is obviously overly simplified.
    I have also heard before this is an envied system although I am unsure how others work, I’m guessing less involvement with NGOs.

    Now since I don’t know much about the structure of NZAid and how it was in the ministry of trade and how it is now.
    I won’t really comment on that.

    But I am interested in his comment on giving more to the Pacific.
    53% currently of NZ’s aid goes to the pacific.
    To quote him directly “Mr McCully said New Zealand’s aid policy would shift from NZAid’s current focus on ‘poverty elimination’ to one closer to the Government’s policy aims, such as economic development in the Pacific.”

    I am of the persuasion that the problem is far to big for what is currently going in. And at an extreme, educating a child is no use if they have no healthcare and die.
    Can our aid be considered to broad?
    Bringing in a greater focus on our neighbours in the pacific could be a good thing.
    However it all depends on how Mr McCully defines “economic development”
    Totally broad term, as Frank pointed out I would question whether this will give any focus on issues of trade to ensure that money is given and invested where it is needed.

  • NZAid have done a great job of refining how our aid is used.

    Your statement:

    And at an extreme, educating a child is no use if they have no healthcare and die.
    Can our aid be considered to broad?
    Bringing in a greater focus on our neighbours in the pacific could be a good thing.

    NZAid funds are focused in the Pacific. 53% focused in one area is significant. In terms of breadth where it may refer to the points within a community that it deals with, yes, this is broad since good community development engages as many points of need. You’re right, if a child gets to go to a school, but there is no development in any other area, it is a waste of time – currently, any money used in development and aid from New Zealand tax payers takes that into account.

    To answer the first query, no, the whole fund is not administered through New Zealand NGO’s. There are specific funds that fit that purpose – KOHA and HAF. They are part of the budget.

    Hopefully that helps a little, Benjamin.

  • KOHA that’s familiar, I’ve been on NZAids website once before.

    Also something that I forgot to add as I trailed off somewhere else then came back

    [quote]Bringing in a greater focus on our neighbours in the pacific could be a good thing.[/quote]

    But this shouldn’t be made expecting something in return, nothing should be forced upon for this aid. But I’m sure that basis is covered, but the more you give the more they feel indebted I guess, as long as its there own feeling that’s okay I guess :)

  • Poverty elimination and sustainable economic development should never be painted as opposites. Ideally they should both be part of the same thing. You will not get sustainable economic development without some level of direct poverty elimination programmes; you will not get anywhere with poverty elimination without providing paths for sustainable economic development. It does of course depend on what you are defining as ‘poverty elimination’ and what is defined as ‘sustainable economic development’. If ‘poverty elimination’ is throwing money out the door of a helicopter, then yes, bring on economic development. If ‘economic development’ is bringing in the big corporations, then no way! Economic development requires healthy people with increasing levels of education. Health and education are the core poverty elimination programmes. These are the balances that all of us in development work with all the time.

  • Hi Paul, thanks for your input. Those are great thoughts.

  • frank have you emailed the minister? It would be interesting to know his response to your comments. I will try and get a chance to put this to our local mp (Deputy PM and Finance Min) to see what he might say

  • I have not emailed him yet.

    Any effort to talk to politicians would be great.

  • A copy of my email to Murray McCully:

    You can email him from here:

    http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/Email.htm?e=zlCXYaiuZ23rigxbxUKk3%2bJXiXqouixO%2fOceWN9PyuH5&n=zlCXYaiuaW3rigxbxUI%3d

    Dear Sir,

    I read with some concern your comments on NZAid as reported in the NZ Herald (March 4).

    I have just returned from a fact-finding trip to the Philippines, visiting development projects delivered by local NGOs supported by TEAR fund, some of which were partly funded by NZAid.
    We visited a wide range of projects from Micro-credit programmes in Manila to community and economic development in rural communities.

    The quality of planning, implementation, effectiveness and accountability of these projects was outstanding as was the competence and commitment of the NGOs. I saw no evidence of a culture of handouts, let alone of ‘hundred dollar notes pushed out the window of a helicopter’. I saw highly effective and well audited development assistance giving these, our neighbours, the chance to build their own economic security.

    NZAid’s model of economic and social development funding delivery is highly regarded internationally – and rightly so. Its strategic planning, criteria for funding and auditing processes are rigorous and well grounded in best development practice.

    I would strongly urge you to ensure that any review of NZAid is undertaken with an open mind and with broad consultation with those parties who have knowledge and experience of delivering the effective aid that New Zealand has become known for. The independence afforded NZAid by its current structure is a valuable part of the way our aid is deployed. I would not want to see this compromised without strong and well debated evidence for a change.

    I believe that poverty elimination is not too broad a goal – the problem is broad and so must the response be. Poverty elimination and economic development are not competing interests – they are rather two sides of the same coin.

    As a taxpayer and voter, I desire that my contribution to global development through New Zealand overseas development assistance is delivered in the most effective way possible and in a way that reaches the poorest of our neighbours. I believe that this is the mark of a compassionate society – and that is what I want this country to be known for.

    Yours faithfully,
    Chris Mason-Battley

Leave a comment

buy cheap generic viagra
cheap overnight viagra
cheap viagra 25mg
discount viagra uk
cheap viagra ambien generic cananda
cheap herbal viagra viagra
buy viagra us pharmacy low prices
buy viagra cialis levitra
cheap online viagra
cheap generic viagra substitutes
cheap generic viagra no script
buy viagra uk
buy online viagra
buy flomax
buy viagra sale
order viagra uk
buy online drug viagra pharmacy
buy cheap viagra cheap viagra online
cheapest in uk viagra
cialis 24
buy get online prescription viagra
cheap discount cialis
usa cialis
order viagra with mastercard
buy cialis online viagra
discount viagra cialis
buy claritin
order viagra online
cheap pill viagra
buy online prescription viagra
buy viagra prescription online
buy in uk viagra
buy viagra without prescription online pharmacy
buy viagra online in australia
buy keyword online viagra
viagra buy uk
buy viagra for women
viagra buy it
cheapest viagra prices
buy viagra on line uk
online slots
buy levitra viagra online
cheapest regalis viagra
buy 100 mg viagra
cheap viagra canada
cheapest viagra tablets
buy viagra no prescription
buy viagra new york
buy cheap generic online viagra
discount viagra or cialis
cialis 1
cheap drugs viagra cialas
free bingo
cheapest viagra online in the uk
cheap meltabs online viagra
buy viagra ebay
cheap generic substitute viagra
order order viagra
buy discount viagra
cheap viagra
buy now cialis
viagra calgary
buy viagra in mexico
viagra by mail order
buy viagra with paypal
order viagra overnight shipping
buy viagra in toronto
buy sale viagra
order viagra online in wisconsin
buy viagra on line
buy buying sale viagra
buy viagra at safeway
buy viagra per pill
buy cheap deal viagra viagra viagra
cheap viagra online order viagra now
buy online order viagra
cheap molde ticket viagra
cheap online generic viagra
order viagra without prescription
cheap discount levitra
buy pharmaceutical viagra
cheapest online viagra
buy viagra 50mg
buy viagra pharmacy online
discount viagra in the usa
buy viagra in england
buy viagra and overseas
cheap genaric viagra kamagra
discount viagra perscription drug
cheap discount viagra viagra
buy viagra or cilas
order viagra with my checking account
buy viagra overnight
buy say viagra
buy real viagra
discount viagra overseas
order viagra softtabs
cheap india viagra
buy discount viagra viagra viagra
cheap viagra in uk
buy viagra in amsterdam
buy viagra locally
buy site viagra
cipro 20
cheapest viagra overnight
order levitra online
buy fosamax
buy clomid
purchase cialis online
buy viagra in australia
buy avandia
viagra buy generic
cheapest prescription viagra
cheapest viagra price
buy viagra online online pharmacy
buy discount cialis
buy viagra cheap online
cheap order prescription viagra
order forms for buying viagra
buy viagra viagra online
order discount viagra
national bingo night
cheapest viagra on line
buy viagra over the counter us
buy viagra online alternative viagra
order cialis and viagra
discount viagra
buy viagra by pill
buy viagra pill
cheapest uk supplier viagra
buy cialis viagra
levitra online
cheap viagra buy pharmacy online now
buy cost low viagra
cheap generic viagra substitute
order viagra online uk
cheap viagra direct
buy uk viagra
order mexican viagra
buy real viagra online pharmacy
order viagra visit your doctor online
buy viagra in spain
buy cheap tamiflu
cheapest prices for viagra online
order prescription viagra
buy online viagra viagra
buy viagra line
buy cheap viagra prescription online
cheapest generic viagra and cialis
buy viagra online without prescription
buy deal online sale viagra viagra
buy viagra online get prescription
cheap prescription viagra without
cheap generic viagra from usa
buy discount online viagra
buy caverta
cheapest generic substitute viagra
viagra buy now pay later
buy norvasc
buy prescription vaniqa viagra
viagra canada online
buy cheap online viagra viagra
buy viagra onlines
viagra and cialis cheap
buy viagra safeway pharmacy
buy from pharmacy us viagra
cheap viagra online pharmacy online
buy viagra online and get prescription
buy online viagra viagra viagra
buy viagra next day delivery
buy free viagra on internet
buy low price viagra
buy viagra viagra
cheap free viagra
buy viagra online at cheap price
buy cheapest viagra
buy prescription viagra
buy viagra in new zealand
order viagra or levitra
viagra by mail catalog
viagra canada generic
order viagra
cheap online viagra viagra
buy viagra prescription america
buy generic viagra buy
cheapest place buy viagra online
buy coumadin
cheap viagra generic
buy p viagra
buy levitra now
buy discount price sale viagra viagra
cheap kamagra uk viagra
buy viagra online a href
buy cheap levitra
buy diflucan
buy viagra vaniqa prescription
purchase levitra
buy line viagra where
cialis 10mg
cheap viagra cialis india
cheap viagra credit
order viagra canada
buy generic online viagra
buy viagra all information
cheapest price viagra
buy cheapest viagra online
buy levitra
buy viagra 1
generic levitra
buy lasix
cialis online
buy viagra from canada
buy discount soma
cheap prescription viagra
buy viagra online pharmacy
viagra and cialis
buy viagra where
discount viagra drug
cheapest generic viagra and cialis pills
buy viagra cheap
cheapest viagra
buy real viagra pharmacy online
buy cheap online viagra
discount viagra offers
cheapest line viagra
cheap generic viagra overnight delivery
buy viagra online in uk
cheapest viagra us pharmacy
discount viagra viagra
buy viagra online australia
buy viagra from safeway
buy pill viagra
tamiflu
buy online price viagra
cheap discount viagra
buy softtabs viagra
buy viagra low cost
viagra and cialis and
buy cheap viagra online
viagra buy viagra
order viagra viagra
buy viagra in bangkok
cheap online order viagra
buy glucophage
buy cheap online uk viagra
cheap cialis online
allegra
cheapest viagra uk
cheap drug viagra
buy cheap viagra on the net
buy levitra online
buy generic viagra online pharmacy online
order viagra here
viagra and cialas
cheap generic viagra worcester imc
order viagra overnight delivery
order cheap viagra
buy viagra at the best price
buy viagra online order
buy cheap viagra online u
cheap cheap viagra
buy viagra prescription
buy cheap discount levitra
cheapest generic viagra and canada
cheapest viagra world
cheap soft viagra
buy viagra australian
cheap viagra cialis
cheap viagra discount
buy free online sale viagra viagra
cheapest generic price viagra
discount viagra sale online
cialis without prescription
buy in online uk viagra
buy cheap site viagra
buy cheap viagra online uk
viagra by mail canada
buy levitra canada
order generic viagra
buy cheap generic viagra online
buy viagra now online
viagra and coupon
buy viagra cheap india pharmacy
buy viagra online paypal
order viagra international ships
viagra buy australia
cheap herbal viagra
viagra by mail
buy cozaar
buy cheapest online viagra
cheap viagra bi
cheap viagra in the uk
cheapest viagra on the internet
cheap meltabs viagra
cheapest viagra in uk che
cheap viagra uks
buy cipro
buy isoptin
buy viagra online no prescription
cialis 2005
cheap man viagra
cheap viagra discount viagra buy viagra
buy cheap viagra
buy depakote
buy deal deal price viagra
cheapest viagra in uk
cheap viagra online
cialis 20mg
buy now levitra
cheapest price for generic viagra
buy viagra order viagra
viagra by overnight delivery
buy file viagra
buy cheapest online place viagra
viagra cailis
cialis no prescription
buy viagra cheap prices
buy nolvadex
buy viagra contact us page
cheapest price for viagra
cheap pharmacy viagra
buy cheap purchase uk viagra
buy viagra alternative
cheap soft tab viagra
buy viagra online cheapest
cialis 10
cheap generic viagra
buy viagra bradenton
buy cheap viagra uk
buy online uk viagra
viagra buying
cheap cialis online
buy viagra online off pharmacy prices
cheap online price price viagra
buy cialis now
buy celebrex
buy cheap viagra in uk
viagra canada online pharmacy
discount levitra
buy viagra cheapest best prices online
viagra buy viagra online
buy nexium
buy lexapro
buy imitrex
buy lipitor
cheapest price on viagra
buy cheap p viagra
buy viagra online at lowest price
buy viagra online order generic viagra
buy viagra in malaysia
buy discount propecia
buy generic viagra online
cheap no prescription viagra
buy kamagra
buy later now pay viagra
buy viagra securely online
cheap inexpensive viagra
cheap online purchase viagra
order viagra now viagra money order
cheap phizer viagra
cheap site viagra
buy viagra internet
buy now viagra
buy in spain viagra
buy viagra online
buy viagra over the counter
order viagra online no rx prescription
cialis 20
buy cialis no prescription
viagra buy online
buy viagra softtabs
order cialis
buy discounted viagra
buy viagra online uk
buy viagra online cheap
buy online online viagra viagra
cheapest cialis
buy cheap viagra online now
viagra by the pill
buy viagra on-line
viagra buying online
order site viagra
buy online purchase viagra
buy generic viagra
buy viagra without prescription
cheap order site viagra
discount viagra mastercard
cheaper viagra levitra apcalis
buy viagra on the internet
buy in online usa viagra
buy australian viagra
viagra buy general
buy crestor
buy online pharmacy viagra
cheaper viagra levitra cyalis
cheap online sales viagra
cheapest site viagra
buy canada viagra
tamiflu
viagra by phone
buy female viagra
order cheap viagra fas
order viagra prescription
buy cheap discount cialis
buy viagra pills
order cialis online
buy line viagra
buy online sale viagra viagra
order levitra
buy online us viagra
cheap generic online viagra
buy deal viagra
buy cialis canada
cheapest place to buy viagra online
buy canada in viagra
buy locally viagra
buy levitra viagra
buy viagra woman
order viagra now
order viagra buying viagr
cheapest generic silagra viagra
buy evista
order viagra air travel
buy viagra from brazil
buy generic viagra pharmacy online
cheap deal deal pill viagra
discount viagra europe
buy viagra cheapest
buy cheap sale viagra
viagra canada
cheap online softtabs viagra
order 50mg viagra
buy viagra london
viagra buy ionline
cheapest viagra online
buy viagra online in the uk
buy kamagra viagra india
buy cialis online