19 NOVEMBER 2018

Winston Peters’ should have withheld aid for Papua New Guinea in light of the record of waste and corruption within that country’s government, says the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union.

Taxpayers’ Union spokesman Louis Houlbrooke says, “It seems futile to throw millions at Papua New Guinea just months after the nation’s government spent $7 million on a fleet of Maseratis and Bentleys. We should withhold aid from governments with a record of wasting money on political vanity and private benefits.”

“Winston Peters should take a tougher line on foreign governments taking New Zealand aid: if they want help from New Zealand taxpayers, they need to demonstrate more frugal spending habits. Denying aid to the Papua New Guinean Government would have sent a powerful message to any foreign governments that expect New Zealand taxpayers to subsidise their corruption.”

“We’re not against giving aid to the people of Papua New Guinea – such as through trusted third parties. But giving it to a Government that cannot be trusted is flushing New Zealand taxpayers’ money away.”

ENDS

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