Twyford Phil: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
Twyford Phil: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Volume:653;Page:2145] 
10.  
PHIL TWYFORD (Labour) 
 to the  
Minister of Foreign Affairs 
: Has he had discussions with other international development donors about his planned structural changes to NZAID and his plans to switch its focus from poverty elimination to economic growth? 
Hon MURRAY McCULLY (Minister of Foreign Affairs) 
: 
 Yes. 
Phil Twyford 
: When he met Mr Eckhard Deutscher of the OECD’s Development Assistance Committee last month did he brief Mr Deutscher one of the world’s leading aid officials on his plans for NZAID? 
Hon MURRAY McCULLY 
: In the course of that meeting I would have generally discussed a number of matters but I cannot recall specifically briefing him on any detail of the review that is under way. The response that I gave to the primary question was motivated by the fact that I have in the course of meetings with Ministers in major donor nations—such as Australia the UK and France amongst others—outlined the process by which the Government is engaged in a refocusing of New Zealand’s overseas development aid approach in its efforts to improve efficiency. I have found the responses to the Government’s plans most encouraging. 
John Hayes 
: Why has the Minister asked for a review of NZAID? 
Hon MURRAY McCULLY 
: Prior to the 2008 election the National Party expressed a number of concerns about the operation of NZAID especially in the light of two highly critical reports by the Auditor-General. As a result a commitment was made in the election policy that and I quote: “A National Government will review the operation of agencies that deliver aid to ensure that aid expenditure is effective and efficiently delivered.” It is my recollection that rather more people voted for the National Party and that policy than for the proponents of the policies that we criticised. The National Government is now keeping faith with the voters by conducting the review it promised. 
Phil Twyford 
: Can the Minister explain why Mr Deutscher reported to other OECD nations after meeting Mr McCully last month that the Minister told him the Government intended to pursue a stable bipartisan approach to foreign affairs including development cooperation that built on continuity and should not lead to major changes when the reality is that he is looking at entirely changing the structure and policy of NZAID? 
Hon MURRAY McCULLY 
: Of course I have no ministerial responsibility for a report that an OECD official might have filed and I am not going to comment in the Chamber on its accuracy. I will say to the member that this Government unlike its predecessor is intent on doing after the election precisely what it promised in its election policies before the election. 
Phil Twyford 
: Is the reason the Minister failed to properly brief Mr Deutscher on his plans for NZAID that his plans fly in the face of international best practice contradict the last two reviews of our aid programme by the OECD and would put New Zealand out of step with most other Western nations? 
Hon MURRAY McCULLY 
: I have made it very clear to the member that the reason the Government has embarked on this review is that before the election the National Party stated as a matter of policy that a review would be conducted. It does not matter to me what any international organisation might say or what reports it might write. If the National Party has made a commitment in its election policy to conduct a review then the Government will conduct a review. The member like everyone else should be patient and find out the results of that review in due course. 
Phil Twyford 
: I seek leave to table a report from the chairman of the Development Assistance Committee of the OECD to other countries of the OECD dated 5 March in which he reports on his meeting with the Minister. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is no objection. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.