8. Hon MARYAN STREET (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister of Foreign Affairs
What advice, if any, did he receive about shifting the focus of development aid from poverty alleviation to sustainable economic development and from whom did he get that advice?
Hon MURRAY McCULLY (Minister of Foreign Affairs) Link to this
I consulted a wide range of individuals, including heads of mission, former heads of mission, officials, non-governmental organisation leaders, and representatives of the Governments that receive New Zealand’s development assistance. I also consulted the New Zealand public, who considered National’s policy of changing the previous focus of the aid programme and elected a National-led Government.
Hon Maryan Street Link to this
Would he agree with Dr Ganesh Wignaraja, a leading Asian Development Bank economist, who said at a recent World Trade Organization seminar in Singapore that the best bang for the aid buck was still found in educating girls; if not, why not?
Hon MURRAY McCULLY Link to this
I have not seen the specific point, but I would agree that education should be one of the cornerstones of the development programme for both girls and boys. It is a matter that the Government is giving some considerable priority to at the moment, and, indeed, it is one of the reasons why I have invited my colleague Mr Allan Peachey, who used to be the principal of New Zealand’s largest secondary school, to lend some special assistance to us in refining our education programmes around the Pacific.
Hon Maryan Street Link to this
Why, when an Asian Development Bank report released in April this year found that only 62 percent of primary-age girls in Papua New Guinea were attending school, does the Minister consider gender issues “not a preoccupation” in the long-term efficient application of aid?
Hon MURRAY McCULLY Link to this
As I made clear in my earlier answer, I think education is one of the cornerstones for the future of the region, particularly if it is going to lead to sustainable economic development. I do not believe that it is excusable to ensure that either boys or girls miss out on those opportunities.
Hon Maryan Street Link to this
Does he consider gifting an unwanted tourism project in Niue to former National MP Mark Blumsky to be a model of the success of sustainable economic development over poverty alleviation?
Hon MURRAY McCULLY Link to this
Yes, I do. In the year in which I inherited the portfolio New Zealand spent $21 million in development assistance in Niue. Niue, for the information of members, has a population of 1,000 people. I took the view that we needed to do somewhat better than that, and it is fair to say that relations were sour with the administration of Niue at the same time. We have in the last 18 months made very substantial progress to convert the aid dollars that we are investing in Niue into a sustainable economic future, particularly in relation to the tourism sector. I invite the member sometime to go and look at the specifics of that project, and she will see for herself.