NZ Aid Agencies Join Forces For Water Aid Projects

News release

June 30, 2003

NZ aid agencies join forces for water aid projects

Two key New Zealand aid agencies - Oxfam New Zealand and Water for Survival - have joined forces to address a growing need for basic water supplies and sanitation in the poorest regions of the world.

From tomorrow (Tuesday, July 1) this creates the Oxfam Water for Survival Programme, which will be based at Oxfam's offices at Kingsland, Auckland.

The joint commitment brings together Water for Survival's technical expertise and Oxfam's focus on humanitarian relief and advocacy.

This will widen the range of projects to be undertaken says Oxfam New Zealand executive director Terri-Ann Scorer.

Established by Auckland engineer John La Roche 15 years ago, Water for Survival has raised funds and provided technical support for a large number of water supply and sanitation programmes - providing help for more than 585,000 of the world's poorest people.

Water for Survival currently has projects in Ethiopia, Bangladesh, India, Papua New Guinea, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Solomon Islands, Vietnam and Kenya.

Both Water for Survival and Oxfam have a policy of working alongside local organisations, involving the people who will benefit from the programmes in planning and implementation.

For more information please contact:

Terri-Ann Scorer, Oxfam New Zealand, telephone 09 355 6500, 025 366 205.

John La Roche, Water for Survival, telephone 09 528 9759, johnwfs@xtra.co.nz

OR Alison Bremner, Oxfam Water for Survival Programme, 09 355 6500 ext 715.

2003 is the International Year of Fresh Water Website: www.oxfam.co.nz

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