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Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee has opened a new hospital in Bhuj in Gujarat state, to replace the hospital destroyed in an earthquake three years ago. NZAID funded expert assistance to assist with the design and reconstruction of the hospital, and it's the first hospital in India to be equipped with New Zealand base isolation technology. At the time of the opening, two hospital ambulances were handed over to the state government: one funded by NZAID and one funded by donations from the Gujarati community in New Zealand.
Contact: Frederik van der Vloodt, 04 439 8368, frederik.vandervloodt@nzaid.govt.nz
New Zealand's decision to grant Timor-Leste's Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation an extra $200,000 will allow dozens of remaining human rights violations cases to be heard before the Commission winds up in October 2004. The Commission was set up two years ago to realise justice for victims of human rights violations during the 24 years of conflict in Timor-Leste, before independence was achieved in 2001. In that time, the Commission has heard 600 community reconciliations. To date, NZAID has allocated $700,000 to the Commission.
Contact: Lynn de Silva, 04 439 8184, lynn.desilva@nzaid.govt.nz
Fourteen NZAID sponsored students graduated from the Fiji School of Medicine in December, including eight doctors from Vanuatu (4), Tonga (2), and Solomon Islands (2). Another four students graduated with Bachelor in Dental Surgery from Micronesia (2), Kiribati and Tonga, one with a Diploma in Environmental Health (from Vanuatu) and the first qualified physiotherapist in the Marshall Islands.
- NZAID's Pacific Programme for Strengthening Governance is supporting the Commonwealth Advanced Seminar (CAS), which will be held in Wellington 16-27 February. The CAS is designed and delivered by Victoria University, and is aimed at ministers and senior civil servants responsible for leadership of public organisations. The purpose of the programme is to provide an overview of governance in the public sector, and an opportunity to learn about and discuss real experiences of change.
Contact: Beverley Turnbull, 04 439 8178, beverley.turnbull@nzaid.govt.nz
- More than 30 officials from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Vietnam, Indonesia and Timor Leste are coming to New Zealand for 22 weeks to study English under NZAID's ELTO programme (English Language for Officials). The goal of the programme is to help partner countries participate more effectively in international negotiations and other discussions in which English is the preferred language.
Contact: Sokha Mey, 04 439 8087, sokha.mey@nzaid.govt.nz
- NZAID is to host James Morris, executive director of the World Food Programme (WFP) in February. Set-up in 1963, WFP is the United Nations frontline agency in the fight against global hunger, and has an annual budget of US$1.6 billion. In 2002, WFP provided food for 72 million people in 82 countries. As part of his visit, James Morris will speak at a forum organised by the Council for International Development, on where the WFP is currently working, including Iraq and Southern Africa, future initiatives, aid from WFP's perspective, why aid is important and how best to respond.
Monday 16 February at 3.30pm, 5th Floor, PSA House, 11 Aurora Tce, Wellington.
Contact: 04 472 6375. For more information: http://www.cid.org.nz/
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- Jayne Talbot started on 5 January as the Professional Development Coordinator for NZAID.
- Anna Pasikale commenced duties on 26 January as the Senior Education Advisor in SAEG.
- Deryk Holland also started on 26 January as a Contracts Officer with the Management Services Unit.
- Keith Thompson started on 2 February, also as a Contracts Officer with MSG.
- Peter Hyde left the Contracts Unit last November, returning to a position within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
- Patti O'Neill, Advisor for Gender and Human Rights, left NZAID on 16 January to take up an assignment with OECD in Paris.
- Corrine Edge, the Study Awards Placement Coordinator, commenced parental leave in December.
- Peter John ended his rotation with NZAID in November, and has returned to a position within the Ministry's Pacific Group.
- Phillip Taula started a two-year secondment position with NZAID on 9 February, filling the International Financial Institutions Development Programme Manager role in the Global Group.
For employment opportunities with NZAID visit www.nzaid.govt.nz/vacancies
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NewZAID updates you in brief on key issues and events on the NZAID agenda. Please click on the useful links included in this newsletter to explore issues in greater depth. A PDF version of NewZAID is also available.
 - Teams of locals recruited and attired in protective gear collect loose fragments of asbestos from damaged roofs in Alofi South. Photo by Douglas Clark, New Zealand Red Cross.
NZAID will provide $5 million for reconstruction work on Niue, which was devastated by Cyclone Heta on 6 January.
Its exact use will depend on a needs assessment currently being carried out by the Niue government, but the key goal will be the restoration of public institutions on the island. Around $1 million of the total will be used to help rebuild Niue's private sector, much of which was destroyed by Heta. NZAID believes the funding will provide a lifeline for many businesses, but it will be dependent on implementation of an acceptable, transparent and equitable means of distribution.
NZAID initially allocated Niue $800,000 for emergency assistance in the days following the cyclone, and New Zealand was immediately involved in reconstruction work, including restoration of water, power and international telecommunications services, civil defence recovery planning, and the cleanup of asbestos building materials scattered in winds of up to 200kph.
Other donors, including Australia and France, have also played a significant role. Foreign Minister Phil Goff and Aid Minister Marian Hobbs said the announcement of New Zealand's contribution to reconstruction would send a strong signal of support to Niue, and to other donors.
The speed with which other countries responded to the cyclone was heartening, and the reconstruction effort was proceeding extremely well, they said.
For more information: http://www.beehive.govt.nz/ViewDocument.cfm?
DocumentID=18770
Contact: Tauaasa Taafaki, 04 439 8254, tauaasa.taafaki@nzaid.govt.nz
The main impact of Cyclone Heta registered on 4-5 January, when Samoa was hit with storm to hurricane force winds. Winds in downtown Apia were recorded at 110kph, with gusts of 145kph. Winds were stronger closer to the eye of the cyclone - in the south and west - and on elevated areas. Coastal roads were affected by storm surges and landslides, and major damage occurred to trees and crops, but comparatively little structural damage to houses. Electricity, water and telephone communications throughout Samoa were all affected and air and shipping services were disrupted for 2-3 days. No immediate emergency relief assistance was requested, and the country moved quickly to the rehabilitation phase. Samoa Red Cross has been prominent in providing emergency assistance along with self-support from communities themselves.
The government of Samoa is finalising its National Assessment Report on the impact of Cyclone Heta prior to requesting donor assistance.
Cyclone Heta struck the tiny Tongan islands of Niuatoputapu and Tafahi on the night of 5 January, causing damage to houses and fales, and devastating much of the islands' crops.
Most of the breadfruit, mango, tava and banana trees had their fruit ripped off them by the cyclone, leaving less than five days to eat the fallen fruit before it started to rot. Up to 50 percent of root crops were also destroyed.
New Zealand quickly responded, and within days arranged $10,000 worth of food supplies. Luckily the New Zealand High Commission in Tonga had already made arrangements to charter the 'Otu Tonga barge to ship a supply of new school furniture to Niuatoputapu under NZAID's high school construction project. The 'Otu Tonga left for Niuatoputapu the weekend after the cyclone hit, laden with food, emergency supplies and vegetable seedlings for the replanting of crops.
The Tongan Government is in the process of finalising its relief plan for the island to cover the next three months.
Contact: Don Will, 04 439 8333, don.will@nzaid.govt.nz
NZAID has given the children of Suva a Christmas present to treasure - plans for a refurbished library with lots of new books.
NZAID has contributed more than $100,000 to renovate Suva's children's library, which will boast new flooring, shelving, air conditioning and a substantial acquisition of children's books.
New Zealand High Commissioner to Fiji Adrian Simcock announced NZAID's intention just before Christmas.
NZAID manager in Fiji Nicki Wrighton said projects developing literacy and supporting education were priority for NZAID. 'Access to children's books and developing good reading habits is an excellent way to work towards enhancing the literacy of Fiji's future generations. We hope this project will give much pleasure to the children of Suva for many years to come.'
Contact: Heather Wright, 04 439 8186, heather.wright@nzaid.govt.nz
Representatives from the Cook Islands and the New Zealand and Australian governments met in Rarotonga in December to discuss NZAID/AusAID's proposal for a jointly funded development assistance programme.
NZAID and AusAID are proposing to develop a harmonised programme, which, in the future, will see all three parties jointly develop a country strategy that would be aligned with the forthcoming Cook Islands National Development Strategy. NZAID development programme manager Stephenie Knight said there was very little difference in funding approaches between NZAID and AusAID, so the consolidated approach made good sense.
Agreement in principle has been reached with the Cook Islands government to proceed with harmonisation plans. The Cook Islands Cabinet is to discuss harmonisation in early 2004 and report its position to NZAID and AusAID. Subject to Cabinet agreement, the signing of a formal agreement between the three countries on a single coordinated programme, managed by NZAID on AusAID's behalf, is planned for March 2004. Once signed, the 'harmonised' programme will come into effect on 1 July 2004.
Contact: Stephenie Knight, 04 439 8262, stephenie.knight@nzaid.govt.nz
NZAID is providing US$350,000 to the Asian Development Bank as a contribution to the recently launched Phnom Penh Plan (PPP) for development management. The PPP embraces the Greater Mekong Subregion (Cambodia, Thailand, Lao PDR, China [Yunnan], Viet Nam and Myanmar), and focuses on upskilling managers in aspects of development such as policy analysis, planning, project management, governance, and monitoring and evaluation. The PPP involves a mix of delivery modes such as short-term training, workshops and seminars at a range of institutions, including the Asian Institute of Technology and Mekong Institute in Thailand.
Contact: Frederik van der Vloodt, 04 439 8368. frederik.vandervloodt@nzaid.govt.nz
NZAID (Nga Hoe Tuputupu-mai-tawhiti, the New Zealand Agency for International Development) is the government agency responsible for international assistance to developing countries. New Zealand's aid ($245 annually) helps to eliminate poverty and create a safe and just world, particularly in our own neighbourhood of the Pacific. NZAID also supports projects in Asia, Africa and Latin America.
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