New Zealand Agency for International Development

New Zealand governmental aid agency

The New Zealand Aid Programme

Logo of the New Zealand Aid Programme

Agency overview
Jurisdiction| New Zealand’s official development assistance (ODA)
Headquarters| Wellington, New Zealand
Ministers responsible|

* Winston Peters, Minister of Foreign Affairs
* Todd McClay, Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs

Agency executive|

* Jonathan Kings, Deputy Secretary, Pacific and Development Group

Parent agency| New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Website| https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/aid-and-development/

The New Zealand Aid Programme is the New Zealand Government's international aid and development agency. The New Zealand Aid Programme is managed by the Pacific and Development Group in the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT). Previously a semi-autonomous body known as the New Zealand Agency for International Development (NZAID), it was reintegrated back into MFAT as the International Development Group following a restructure in 2009. Its Māori name is Nga Hoe Tuputupu-mai-tawhiti – the paddles that bring growth from afar.[1] The Head of the New Zealand Aid Programme is Jonathan Kings, a lawyer and public servant. According to the OECD, New Zealand’s total official development assistance (ODA) (USD 537.6 million, preliminary data) decreased in 2022 due to fewer disbursements within its three-year budget cycle and represented 0.23% of gross national income (GNI). [2]

## History

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NZAID was established in 2002 by the Fifth Labour Government with the launching of a new overseas aid policy, "Towards a Safe and Just World Free of Poverty". The establishment of NZAID as a semi-autonomous body marked a significant shift in the management of New Zealand official development assistance (ODA). Prior to 2002, ODA had been managed by MFAT using largely non-specialist staff, policies and procedures.

A Ministerial Review in 2001 found that New Zealand's management of ODA lacked a clear mission: "Management and staff are pursuing poorly defined development assistance, foreign policy and trade objectives. There is a serious confusion of purpose. At the implementing end, desk officers are uncertain and concerned about the core mission of their work." The 2001 Review found that NZ ODA lacked focus; poverty analyses on which to base decisions; systematic analysis of past performance; and systematic use of good practice in aid design and delivery. The rotational staffing system (whereby career MFAT staff were rotated through the aid management division, rather than recruited specifically for skills and experience in ODA issues) had led to the relevant area of MFAT being regarded as "both a training ground for diplomats and a dumping ground for non-performers". Basic issues of staff and document management were found wanting. The establishment of NZAID was a response to these and other problems.

The Cabinet Minute (01) 28/8[3] which mandated the creation of NZAID "set the following major directions for New Zealand's ODA:

* Elimination of poverty as the central focus of NZAID, which would need to be incorporated in a new policy framework.
* Integration of the International Development Targets (IDTs) – subsequently incorporated into the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – within the new policy framework, and in Pacific regional strategy papers.
* A complete overhaul of the NZODA policy framework that would need to be strategic, accountable and focused, based on international best practice in ODA.
* Bilateral programmes to be based on country-based poverty analysis and country programme strategies.
* A core focus on the Pacific should be maintained.
* Development Assistance to the Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau should remain within the NZODA programme.
* A bilateral assessment framework should consider the degree to which the ODA programme was too dispersed, and a strategic approach to funding multilateral allocations should be adopted.
* A new education strategy should be developed that would give greater prominence to basic education needs and individual country circumstances.
* NZODA should mainstream human rights, gender and environment throughout its operations.
* A framework should be developed for determining the level of contributions to regional and multilateral institutions.
* Monitoring and evaluation systems to measure the impact of New Zealand ODA should be established.
* NZODA should develop 'centres of excellence' in aid delivery."

## Structure

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The New Zealand Aid Programme, through the Pacific and Development Group, consists of the following organisational divisions:

* Deputy Secretary Office
* Pacific Regional Division
* Pacific Bilateral Division - Polynesia & French Pacific
* Pacific Bilateral Division - Melanesia & Micronesia
* Global Development & Scholarships Division
* Partnerships, Humanitarian & Multilateral Division
* Development Economy & Prosperity Division
* Development People & Planet Division
* Development Capability & Insights Division

## Development approach

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New Zealand aims for “a more peaceful world, in which all people live in dignity and safety, all countries can prosper and our shared environment is protected”.[4] Through its policy for International Cooperation for Effective Sustainable Development,[5] New Zealand progresses the social, environmental, economic, and stability and governance pillars of sustainable development. New Zealand’s ODA spending focuses on countries most in need, particularly Small Island Developing States and Least developed countries. New Zealand’s ODA has a primary geographic focus on the Pacific Ocean, and a secondary geographic focus on Southeast Asia. Beyond this, it achieves global reach through the multilateral system and regional programmes.

## Area of operation

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In 2009, Cabinet agreed to the mission statement and directed that within this the core focus be sustainable economic development. Cabinet also directed that the Pacific remain the core geographic focus and receive an increased portion of New Zealand's ODA.

New Zealand’s policy for International Cooperation for Effective Sustainable Development was approved by Cabinet on 25 November 2019, confirming the New Zealand Aid Programme's primary focus on the Pacific region, in line with the Pacific Reset.[6] It also affirms four development principles to guide development work: effectiveness, inclusiveness, resilience, and sustainability. They replace earlier policies on development quality, including the Cross-Cutting Issues Policy and Activity Quality Policy.

A February 2021 Parliament Inquiry into New Zealand's Aid to the Pacific recommended continuing to increase ODA to the Pacific, and promoting empowerment, inclusion, and local ownership.[7]

## Controversy and criticism

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In 2008, the Office of the Controller and Auditor-General and Audit New Zealand released critical reports on NZAID procedures and systems, leading to negative comments in New Zealand Parliament and critical media coverage.[8][9] NZAID has responded with a programme to "strengthen internal systems and processes".[10]

NGOs in New Zealand have defended the performance of NZAID.[11] The most significant NGO criticism of the New Zealand aid programme is that it should be larger.[12]

The New Zealand National Party have claimed that overseas aid needs "fresh thinking" and that "Over many years and various Governments, New Zealand aid has encouraged the growth of political structures and bureaucracy that are not sustainable." and that "there is no evidence that the major problems identified in the 2005 report by Professor Marilyn Waring have been rectified."[13]

Trevor Loudon, a member of the free market liberal ACT Party, has criticised NZAID as an organisation, and individuals within it, for having a "socialist bent" and funding organisations that are "more political than aid oriented".[14] However, there has been noticeably less criticism of this sort in New Zealand than in Australia.[15]

## References

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1. ^ Who is NZAID?, New Zealand Agency for International Development website
2. ^ "OECD Development Co-operation Profiles". Retrieved 4 October 2023.
3. ^ Ministerial Review of Progress in Implementing 2001 Cabinet Recommendations Establishing NZAID
4. ^ "New Zealand's International Development Principles" (PDF).
5. ^ "Policy Statement: New Zealand's International Cooperation for Effective Sustainable Development (ICESD)" (PDF).
6. ^ "Case Study: The Pacific Reset - A Year On". New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (in French). Retrieved 20 October 2021.
7. ^ "Inquiry into New Zealand's Aid to the Pacific — Reports - New Zealand Parliament". www.parliament.nz. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
8. ^ e.g. Audrey Young (18 February 2008). "NZAid 'too weak' to cope with more money, say MPs". The New Zealand Herald.
9. ^ "New Zealand Agency for International Development: Management of overseas aid programmes". Office of the Auditor-General New Zealand. Retrieved 14 March 2011.
10. ^ NZAID | Who is NZAID? | Our organisation
11. ^ "NZAID's effectiveness needs to be recognised". Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 15 March 2008.
12. ^ "Campaigns". Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 15 March 2008.
13. ^ "Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Discussion Paper" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 February 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2008.
14. ^ "The New Zeal Blog has moved..."
15. ^ "Redefining NGOs: The Emerging Debate". www.aph.gov.au. Archived from the original on 24 December 2003.

## External links

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* New Zealand Aid Programme website
* New Zealand Aid Programme's Approach to Aid
* 2001 Ministerial Review of NZ ODA
* Select Committee Inquiry into New Zealand's relationships with South Pacific countries 10 December 2010
* NZAID Five Year Strategy Part A
* NZAID Five Year Strategy Part B
* OECD 2005 Peer Review of New Zealand's ODA program
* NZAID's blog
* Aotearoa New Zealand Development Studies Network

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New Zealand public service departments

Part of the public sector organisations in New Zealand

Departments|

* Crown Law Office
* Department of Conservation
* Department of Corrections
* Department of Internal Affairs
* Archives New Zealand
* National Library of New Zealand
* Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
* Education Review Office
* Ministry for Ethnic Communities
* Government Communications Security Bureau
* Inland Revenue Department
* Land Information New Zealand
* Ministry for Culture and Heritage
* Ministry for Pacific Peoples
* Ministry for Primary Industries
* New Zealand Food Safety
* Ministry for the Environment
* Ministry for Women
* Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
* Immigration New Zealand
* New Zealand Space Agency
* Ministry of Education
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* Ministry of Health
* Public Health Agency
* Ministry of Housing and Urban Development
* Ministry of Justice
* Ministry of Māori Development–Te Puni Kōkiri
* Ministry for Regulation
* Ministry of Social Development
* Ministry of Youth Development
* Ministry of Transport
* New Zealand Customs Service
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* Oranga Tamariki
* Public Service Commission
* Serious Fraud Office
* Social Investment Agency
* Statistics New Zealand
* The Treasury

Departmental agencies|

* Cancer Control Agency
* Charter School Agency
* Independent Children's Monitor
* National Emergency Management Agency
* Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People
* Ministry for Ethnic Communities
* Office of Treaty Settlements and Takutai Moana–Te Tari Whakatau

Interdepartmental executive boards|

* Border Executive Board
* Climate Change Chief Executives Board
* Digital Executive Board
* Family Violence Executive Board

See also: Ministers in the New Zealand Government

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International development agencies maintained by governments

Africa|

* Egypt: EAPD

Asia Pacific|

* Australia: DFAT
* China: CIDCA
* Israel: Mashav
* Japan: JICA
* Kuwait: KFAED
* Saudi Arabia: SDRPY
* South Korea: KOICA/Korea Eximbank
* New Zealand: NZAID
* Palestine: PICA
* Taiwan: ICDF
* Thailand: TICA

Europe|

* Austria: ADA
* Azerbaijan: AIDA
* Denmark: DANIDA
* Finland: FINIDA
* France: AFD
* Germany: GIZ
* Greece: Hellenic Aid
* Ireland: Irish Aid
* Italy: AICS
* Liechtenstein: Liechtensteinische Entwicklungsdienst
* Luxembourg: Lux-Development
* Norway: Norad
* Portugal: IPAD
* Poland: Polish Aid
* Russia: Rossotrudnichestvo
* Spain: AECID
* Sweden: Sida
* Switzerland: SDC
* Turkey: TIKA
* United Kingdom: DFID

North America|

* Canada: CIDA
* United States: USAID, Millennium Challenge Corporation

South America|

* Brazil: ABC
* Chile: AGCI

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF

National|

* United States

Other|

* Yale LUX

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