Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
License needed for work use Register

Search

 

Cablegate: Nzaid: Approach to Aid in the Pacific

VZCZCXRO0970
RR RUEHPB
DE RUEHWL #0462 1670456
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 160456Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON
TO RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 4452
RUEHPB/AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY 0577
RUEHSV/AMEMBASSY SUVA 0479
INFO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2905

C O N F I D E N T I A L WELLINGTON 000462

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/ANP AND EAP/PD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/15/2016
TAGS: PREL NZ XV
SUBJECT: NZAID: APPROACH TO AID IN THE PACIFIC

REF: A. WELLINGTON 451
B. WELLINGTON 461

(U) Classified By: Political-Economic Counselor Katherine
Hadda, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

1. (C) On June 16, Poloff met with Craig Hawke, Director,
Pacific Group, New Zealand's International Aid & Development
Agency (NZAID) to discuss GNZ's official development
assistance (ODA) and to explore opportunities for U.S.-New
Zealand cooperation in the region. Hawke said the Pacific is
an "over-aided region, and that the last thing the Pacific
needs is another aid project." Rather, Hawke suggested, U.S.
weight and influence would be more useful promoting policy
dialogues. "Australia and New Zealand are seen as
neighbors," Hawke added, "and the U.S. can add its voice as
an external, neutral party -- especially given its global
perspective on governance and human rights."

2. (SBU) When GNZ established NZAID as a semi-autonomous
agency four years ago, Hawke said its two primary goals were
elimination of poverty and a focus on development in on the
Pacific. New Zealand's ODA is centered substantially on 18
countries, with 11 of those in Melanesia and Polynesia.
NZAID is mainly pursuing programs to strengthen governance,
achieve broader-based economic growth, and improve education
and health.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

3. (SBU) In the last three years, GNZ has increased it ODA
allocation to the Pacific by 50%, to NZD 173 million (USD 109
million) as of the 2005/06 program year. This Pacific
allocation represents 55% of total ODA (up from 45% three
years ago). The primary target of increased spending are
programs for income generation, rural livelihoods, investing
in infrastructure for the poor, trade and economic
cooperation, fisheries, and regulatory reform, Hawke said.

4. (C) Hawke noted that NZAID's goals for the Pacific are
largely consistent with those of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and Trade (MFAT). However, Hawke noted that MFAT and
NZAID had differing but complementary views on security
objectives in that MFAT is focused on physical security (e.g.
border management, port container security) and NZAID is more
concerned with "human security" (e.g. socio-economic security
concerns centering on conflict prevention, squatter
settlements, natural resource management, environment
management, and disaster mitigation and response).
McCormick

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
World Headlines

 
UN News: Aid Access Is Key Priority

Among the key issues facing diplomats is securing the release of a reported 199 Israeli hostages, seized during the Hamas raid. “History is watching,” says Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths. “This war was started by taking those hostages. Of course, there's a history between Palestinian people and the Israeli people, and I'm not denying any of that. But that act alone lit a fire, which can only be put out with the release of those hostages.” More


Save The Children: Four Earthquakes In a Week Leave Thousands Homeless

Families in western Afghanistan are reeling after a fourth earthquake hit Herat Province, crumbling buildings and forcing people to flee once again, with thousands now living in tents exposed to fierce winds and dust storms. The latest 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit 30 km outside of Herat on Sunday, shattering communities still reeling from strong and shallow aftershocks. More

UN News: Nowhere To Go In Gaza

UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said some 1.1M people would be expected to leave northern Gaza and that such a movement would be “impossible” without devastating humanitarian consequences and appeals for the order to be rescinded. The WHO joined the call for Israel to rescind the relocation order, which amounted to a “death sentence” for many. More


Access Now: Telecom Blackout In Gaza An Attack On Human Rights

By October 10, reports indicated that fixed-line internet, mobile data, SMS, telephone, and TV networks are all seriously compromised. With significant and increasing damage to the electrical grid, orders by the Israeli Ministry of Energy to stop supplying electricity and the last remaining power station now out of fuel, many are no longer able to charge devices that are essential to communicate and access information. More

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.