NZAID

FAQs | About NZAID

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FAQs on this page are about NZAID's corporate structure, the NZAID budget and how it compares to other countries, working at NZAID, how to contact individual people, and getting help with study projects.

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What is NZAID?

NZAID is the New Zealand Government's international aid and development agency within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The agency is responsible for delivering New Zealand 's official development assistance (ODA) - the Government's aid programme - and for advising the Government on international development policy and issues.

Nga Hoe Tuputupu-mai-tawhiti - "the paddles that bring growth from afar" - is the Māori name for NZAID. This name reflects New Zealand 's Pacific heritage and the partnership principles of the Treaty of Waitangi.

Reflecting the Government's commitment to being a good international citizen and neighbour, NZAID's focus is on supporting sustainable development in developing countries in order to reduce poverty and contribute to a more secure, equitable, and prosperous world.

NZAID's geographic focus is the Pacific region where we have close historic and human links. NZAID also has programmes in Asia, Africa, Latin America , and with a range of international multilateral organisations and non-government organisations (NGOs).

NZAID is 100 percent Government funded.

How many people work for NZAID?

Approximately 180 people working in NZAID's Wellington office and approximately 100 staff work overseas (including locally-engaged staff) at New Zealand 's embassies and high commissions, mostly in key countries in the Pacific and Asia.

How can I get a job with NZAID?

All current vacancies, including job descriptions, are in the vacancies section of the website. Also keep an eye on the government jobs website and in the print media.

Due to the large number of enquiries NZAID receives from people wishing to work at NZAID, unsolicited emails and/or CVs will not be acknowledged.

If you wish to find out more about development as a career choice, please visit the Global Focus Aotearoa website.

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How do I contact someone at NZAID?

The email address format for staff at NZAID is firstname.lastname@nzaid.govt.nz

NZAID's physical address is:

NZAID
Level 18, HP Tower
163-175 Featherston Street
Wellington

NZAID's mailing address is:

Private Bag 18-901
Wellington 5045
New Zealand

Phone: +64 4 439 8200
Fax: +64 4 439 8515

General enquiries can be sent to enquiries@nzaid.govt.nz

You can also go to our contacts page for more information.

Where does New Zealand's assistance go?

New Zealand 's aid is delivered through many channels, including:

  • bilateral aid programmes in Pacific and Asia
  • supporting the work of New Zealand-based and overseas NGOs
  • supporting regional and international multilateral organisations.

Visit the ‘Where NZAID works ' page for further information on the particular countries NZAID works in and supports.

Why should New Zealand give aid?

There are many reasons why New Zealand should give aid. These include strengthening ties with other countries, helping those in need, and being a good global citizen.

Poverty undermines the stability and security needed for the sustainable growth of the world economy, on which New Zealand's economy depends.

Supporting sustainable development is a global issue.

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What is New Zealand's aid budget?

The total NZAID programme budget for 2009/2010 is $500 million. The aid budget is forecasted to rise to $525 million in 2010/11, $550 million in 2011/12, and to $600 million in 2012/13.

Over half of NZAID's expenditure is spent in the Pacific. NZAID has allocated $253 million to Pacific development in the year 2009/10. NZAID's global programmes, which include Asia, Latin America, Southern Africa, Afghanistan and emergency relief, have an allocated amount of $ 104 million for the same period. New Zealand NGO's will receive $33 million with $95 million to International agencies such as the United Nations. (Note all figures have been rounded to the nearest million dollars).

How does New Zealand's aid budget compare to those of other countries?

New Zealand is one of 30 countries in the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), 22 are members of the OECD's Development Assistance Committee (DAC). In 2006 New Zealand ranked 17th out of the 22 OECD DAC countries (provisional figures).

New Zealand ranked seventh out of 22 countries in the 2008 Commitment to Development Index. The index is a report published annually by the Center for Global Development and takes into account the wide areas of policy which can affect developing countries including aid, trade, investment, security, environment and technology sharing contributions. Read more about New Zealand's Commitment to Development Index results online or download a PDF at the Center for Global Development website.

Why doesn't New Zealand give 0.7 percent of our Gross National Income (GNI) like some organisations suggest we should?

In September 2000 a United Nations (UN) summit of 189 countries, including New Zealand, discussed ways to reduce poverty by 2015, and identified eight goals which became known as the Millennium Development Goals. The Millennium Declaration reconfirmed an earlier UN agreement that wealthy countries should aim to be giving 0.7 percent of their gross national income in aid and set a target of achieving this by 2015.

The Government, through NZAID, concentrates its efforts on ensuring that New Zealand 's aid programmes can be recognised as quality, effective and efficient.

The ODA budget increased by approximately $28 million in 2009/10 to $500 million.

New Zealand is committed to providing effective aid. This includes support for the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness and the Accra Agenda for Action.

To deliver on New Zealand 's international obligations, NZAID pursues concrete measurable results through programmes that are well co-ordinated with other donors and closely aligned to partner country needs. NZAID ensures that development approaches and practices represent the best value for money for New Zealand and partner countries and will continue to strengthen mutual accountability processes and results reporting.

New Zealand will also work more closely with Australia on development in the Pacific, especially helping Pacific island countries achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

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I'm doing a school project. Can NZAID help with my research?

You should be able to find answers to most questions about New Zealand's overseas aid programme here on the NZAID website.

A good place to start is the NZAID overview factsheet for general information and the ‘Where NZAID works' page for information on a particular country or region.

Global Focus Aotearoa (previously known as Dev-Zone and the Global Education Centre) provides training and resources to teachers, community groups and people researching development. It has a lending library, a quarterly magazine, school resource kits, and other training material.

Global Focus Aotearoa is an independent New Zealand-based resource centre for international development and global issues.

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