$900m more on aid and diplomats

WELLINGTON: Foreign Minister Winston Peters has secured $900 million in extra funding for more diplomats and international aid in the Budget, saying the extra spending is needed in a ‘‘turbulent’’ global environment.

The funding over four years will include $191 million for an extra 50 diplomats and the reopening of New Zealand’s embassy in Stockholm, Sweden.

However, the vast bulk of it, $714 million, will be in aid spending targeting the Pacific.

Mr Peters said that would be aimed at responding to climate change, contributions to the United Nations and the World Bank and helping humanitarian agencies respond to natural disasters.

Mr Peters set out the Foreign Affairs Budget ‘‘wins’’ to an audience of diplomats and aid organisations at Parliament last night.

‘‘New Zealand needs to rebuild expertise and resourcing to respond to an increasingly turbulent global environment.’’

He said the funding for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s diplomats and embassies would help restore that service after the belttightening years under National, which he said had ‘‘hollowed out and weakened’’ the foreign service.

‘‘New Zealanders are well aware of the international risks and that New Zealand needs a voice on the world stage.

‘‘It is important that our voice is heard in the right place at the right time to protect our interests.’’

National Party leader Simon Bridges said a big boost for Mr Peters’ portfolio was hard to justify given Labour was having to delay or abandon some of its own policy promises such as making GPs’ visits $10 cheaper by July this year.

‘‘I don’t think New Zealanders will accept significant new money for Foreign Affairs and foreign aid when you are not meeting a core promise you made to New Zealanders about cheaper GP visits for hardworking New Zealanders from 1 July.’’

Mr Bridges said the boost for Foreign Affairs was clearly little more than ‘‘payback’’ for Mr Peters’ choosing Labour to form a Government.

‘‘This is just money for Winston Peters to keep him happy.’’

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Mfat) has just had a recruiting drive for new potential diplomats but it had advised Mr Peters in its postelection briefing that there was a shortage of staff with experience. The funding is aimed at helping New Zealand beef up its trade arm, given international uncertainty such as the change in policy by the United States under President Donald Trump, increasing protectionism and titfortat tariffs between the US and China.

New Zealand also faces implementing the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans Pacific Partnership and trade negotiations with Britain and the European Union as well as the ‘‘upgrade’’ of the China agreement.

The boost for aid funding is clearly aimed at ensuring New Zealand holds ground as China and other countries increase their own presence in the Pacific region, something Mr Peters made clear when he set out his plans for a ‘‘Pacific reset’’ earlier in the year.

The aid funding was expected to dovetail with an expected increase for aid in the Pacific by Australia in its Budget last night.

❛ This is just money for Winston Peters to keep him happy National Party leader

Simon Bridges