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The New Zealand Governor-General, Hon Sir Anand Satyanand, and Lady Satyanand were in Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands as part of a state visit earlier this month.
While in Papua New Guinea the Governor General visited the Anglicare Stop AIDS group and presented them with a K19,000 (approximately NZ$10,000) cheque from the New Zealand government to support their HIV and AIDS awareness programme. Anglicare Stop AIDS, funded in part by NZAID, works to raise awareness of HIV and AIDS through drama; an effective method of communication in a country where literacy levels are low and people often speak several different languages.
For more information about Anglicare Stop AIDS contact Tessa Te Mata.
The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has nearly completed its shelter programme in Afghanistan, having provided aid to more than 50,000 Afghan returnees this year alone.
Since 2002 UNHCR has provided shelter assistance to almost 190,000 vulnerable returnee families, benefiting an estimated 1.2 million Afghan people, mainly in rural areas across the country.
This represents approximately 25 per cent of the more than 4.3 million Afghans assisted home by the UNHCR since the Taliban regime was expelled by United States led forces at the end of 2001. Around 3.4 million Afghans have returned from Pakistan and over 865,000 have returned from Iran.
UNHCR is one of NZAID’s priority multilateral agencies, with NZAID providing $6 million of core funding annually. For more information contact Stephenie Knight.
One of NZAID’s top priority multilateral agencies, the United Nations Children’s Agency (UNICEF), released a new report on child protection this month.
Entitled Progress for Children: A Report Card on Child Protection it collates data for the first time on a wide range of issues that affect children. The issues reported on include: sexual abuse and trafficking, child marriage, physical punishment of children, child labour, birth registration, the harmful traditional practice of female genital cutting, and attitudes toward violence against women inside marriage.
At the launch of the report UNICEF’s Executive Director, Ann M. Veneman, emphasised that a society cannot thrive if its youngest members are forced into early marriage, abused as sex workers or denied their basic rights. She added that the evidence of continuing harm and abuse must inspire the world to greater effort to guarantee the rights of all children, everywhere.
For more information about the report and NZAID’s work with UNICEF contact Stephenie Knight.
NZAID will be accepting applications for the Post Graduate Field Research Awards for 2009/10 until 25 November.
The awards aim to enhance New Zealand's contribution to international development knowledge and practice through the promotion of quality student research and analysis.
These awards are available to New Zealand citizens or permanent residents that are undertaking field research in developing countries as part of the requirements of a New Zealand-based Masters degree or Doctorate in a field related to international development. Research should take place over a minimum of four weeks between the period of January 2010 to December 2010
Applications must be received by 1.00pm (NZ Time) on Wednesday 25 November 2009.
For more information and to download an application form visit NZAID’s website.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has released the 2009 Human Development Report - Overcoming barriers: Human mobility and development.
Since 1990, annual Human Development Reports have explored challenges including poverty, gender, democracy, human rights, cultural liberty, globalisation, water scarcity and climate change. The 2009 report focuses on the topic of migration.
To read and download the report from UNDP click here.
NZAID is seeking submissions from specialists interested in providing consulting services through the NZAID Approved Contractor Scheme. NZAID’s development assistance programme comprises a range of delivery mechanisms including programme and project aid, capacity building, training, supply of commodities, emergency disaster relief and contributions to international agencies.
The Approved Contractor Scheme allows NZAID pre-selected specialist contractors to undertake short to medium term assignments on request.
The full set of specialist fields being sought and details of how to submit your proposal can be obtained from the Government Electronic Tenders Service website.
Note: The deadline for submission of proposals is 12 noon (NZ Time) Wednesday 4 November 2009.
NZAID’s Currents magazine is an interesting and informative way to find out more about how New Zealand is working to support development and respond to humanitarian crises in our region, and around the world. To receive a free copy of the magazine in the post please contact Nadine Koszler with your mailing details or visit NZAID’s website to download a copy.
The latest issue is available now and has a year in review theme. The issue looks at the challenges and successes across NZAID’s programmes in the 2008/09 financial year and the future directions for NZAID.
 - The latest issue - out now!
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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.
 - The Pacific tsunami created significant destruction in areas of Samoa and Tonga. Photo - New Zealand Defence Force.
New Zealand will provide ongoing support to assist the people of Samoa and Tonga recover from the Pacific tsunami that struck on the morning of 29 September (Samoan time). The tsunami caused significant destruction in areas of Samoa and Tonga, and resulted in the tragic loss of life and injury to Samoans, Tongans, New Zealanders, and Australians.
In the immediate aftermath of the tsunami both Australia and New Zealand provided substantial emergency assistance. New Zealand initially made $2 million available to support the emergency relief effort in Samoa and Tonga.
Foreign Ministers Murray McCully and Stephen Smith have since announced the New Zealand and Australian governments will each contribute A$5 million to the Government of Samoa to support its tsunami recovery and reconstruction efforts.
The Samoan Government has been very effective in coordinating the response to the tsunami disaster, and has quickly identified priorities for recovery and reconstruction.
The A$10 million trans-Tasman package of budget support provides Samoa with the ability to rebuild its infrastructure, restore essential services, and begin the process of economic recovery. The immediate priority will be rebuilding communities, including housing, water, power, and roads.
New Zealand has also committed a further $1.5 million towards tsunami recovery and reconstruction efforts in Tonga, where the tsunami killed nine people and severely damaged houses and essential infrastructure on the isolated northern island of Niuatoputapu.
Reconstruction work on Niuatoputapu will be difficult due to its isolation, adding to the cost and complexity of rebuilding. New Zealand's financial contribution to these efforts will help Tonga recover from this disaster as quickly as possible.
France, Australia, and New Zealand, under the FRANZ agreement have worked together to respond to the disaster in Tonga and co-operation between the countries will also ensure that the reconstruction effort will be well coordinated over the coming months.
Several New Zealand based appeals have been established in response to the tsunami. Appeal information and additional advice on public giving is available from NZAID’s website.
 - Students at Lalomanu Primary School in Samoa had a special visit from New Zealand Defence Force personnel. Photo - New Zealand Defence Force.
New Zealand High Commissioner to Samoa, Caroline Bilkey and New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel visited Lalomanu Primary School on 13 October as a special thank you to the local village for allowing the NZDF to use their facilities while providing support to the tsunami relief effort along the southern coast of Upolu in Samoa.
A Royal New Zealand Air Force Iroquois helicopter and a New Zealand Army Pinzgauer truck were used to show the children some of the equipment the NZDF had used as part of their tsunami relief operations. The children were also treated to ride in the Army Pinzgauer truck.
Caroline Bilkey met with Lalomanu School Principal Maulalo Ionae to discuss the school's situation after the tsunami. At the time of the meeting Principal Ioane stated that only 10 percent of the school's students were back at school. Many families are still coping with the effects of the tsunami but the school was encouraging all of its students to come back to school.
The New Zealand Army Medical Team and Army Engineers, and the Royal New Zealand Navy Dive Team used Lalomanu Primary School as a base from which to provide support for relief operations in Samoa following the Pacific tsunami.
NZDF deployed approximately 150 personnel to Samoa to assist with disaster relief.
For more information contact communications@nzaid.govt.nz.
 - A number of schools were destroyed in the 30 September Indonesian earthquake including this one in the Pariaman District.
The New Zealand government has contributed an initial $1 million to support emergency relief work following an earthquake in Indonesia, and a typhoon that struck a number of Southeast Asian countries.
Foreign Minister Murray McCully has said "New Zealand's contributions will be channelled through the Red Cross and other aid agencies already on the ground.”
New Zealand has provided $600,000 to assist the emergency response following the magnitude 7.6 earthquake that struck western Sumatra in Indonesia on September 30 killing an estimated 1,117 people, injuring 1,214 others and affecting 1.2 million.
Padang City and surrounding towns have been heavily hit, with schools, hospitals, hotels and markets destroyed. The Indonesian Government estimates that the rehabilitation and reconstruction required will cost $745 million.
Initial assessments by Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) estimate that the earthquake left nearly 200,000 households in need of emergency shelter and other assistance.
The international humanitarian community launched a US$38 million response plan to complement the Indonesian Government’s efforts to assist communities in West Sumatra earlier this month. The 90-day plan targets some of the most affected areas including Padang City, and will cover 74 recovery projects supported by 11 UN agencies, the International Organisation for Migration, and 18 international non-government organisations.
The New Zealand government has also contributed $400,000 to support relief efforts in the Philippines, Viet Nam and Cambodia. All three countries suffered major flooding as a result of Typhoon Ketsana and Typhoon Parma, which struck within a week of each other.
The United Nations has reported that the Typhoon Ketsana and Typhoon Parma led to more than 500 deaths and caused crop damage estimated at over US$160 million.
Typhoon Ketsana severely hit the Philippines, with the capital Manila suffering its worst floods in 40 years. Throughout the country three million homes have been damaged and over 300,000 people displaced. Viet Nam and Cambodia were also badly hit, with deaths, significant damage, and displacement of people.
For more information visit NZAID's website.
Ten New Zealand engineers joined the relief efforts in the Indonesian city of Padang in western Sumatra, following the destructive magnitude 7.6 earthquake that struck on 30 September.
Over 40,000 buildings suffered significant damage, and there have also been earthquake-induced major landslides in surrounding areas.
The 10 structural engineers have assisted local Padang Public Works engineers to undertake assessments of the damage to numerous buildings. In just over a week the New Zealand engineers assessed and classified over 140 buildings including hospitals, schools and other public buildings, and made recommendations to the Governor of Padang on the buildings fitness for re-occupation. Of the buildings inspected by the team 25 percent needed repairs before use and 25 percent were found to be unsafe, requiring major work or demolition.
Dr. David Hopkins, Chairman of Earthquake Engineering NZ, who led the coordination of the mission, said “it is great to see New Zealanders with the skills and experience volunteering to assist at a time of great need.”
Foreign Minister Murray McCully noted that the initiative is an excellent example of public and private sectors taking an NZ Inc approach in responding to an urgent humanitarian need.
"New Zealand and Indonesia have developed a close relationship on earthquake engineering in recent years, with New Zealand providing technical assistance following the Yogyakarta earthquake in 2006; the Nias earthquake in 2005, and the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004," Mr McCully said.
The engineers were requested by the United Nations Development Programme, which is leading recovery work.
Further details are provided on the New Zealand Society of Earthquake Engineers website.
Foreign Minister Murray McCully has welcomed the establishment of the Business Opportunity Support Scheme (BOSS) in Tonga, which aims to encourage commercial investment and increase earnings from exports and tourism.
"Encouraging the development of Tonga's private sector will help create the economic growth required to lift more people out of poverty," Mr McCully said.
BOSS is a joint initiative by the private sector and the governments of New Zealand and Tonga. It will help companies from the two countries make significant investment decisions, and support business links between New Zealand and Tonga.
Under the scheme investors and entrepreneurs can receive grants of up to $30,000 to carry out feasibility studies focusing on the export-related, import substitution, and tourism sectors.
Mr McCully said "The grants will encourage commercial investment by helping businesses who would not otherwise be able to assess the commercial viability of potential new investments or business opportunities”. He noted that support for the private sector is a key priority for development assistance in the Pacific, and the BOSS scheme is a practical example of New Zealand’s commitment to strengthening trade and economic growth in the Pacific.
For more information on New Zealand’s official development assistance to Tonga visit the NZAID website.
 - Participants from the Community Auxiliary Police course take part in a first aid training workshop.
On 1 October 22 women graduated from the first ever, all female recruit course for the Bougainville Community Auxiliary Police (CAP) in Buka, Bougainville in front of the President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Hon James Tanis, and a large and enthusiastic crowd of supporters.
The 22 women took the oath of office, administered by the Senior Provincial Magistrate. Also in attendance at the ceremony was the Minister for Police, a representative for the Minister for Women, officials from New Zealand Police and a number of other dignitaries. Many of the speeches at the ceremony reflected that there was a real need for female officers in the CAP.
The women were originally selected by their individual communities and chiefs to take part in the course and needed to pass a pre-course entry assessment. By training in both the evenings and weekends the women were able to complete the normally four week course in an intensive three weeks.
The new female officers have since returned to their communities and have commenced CAP duties alongside their male colleagues.
NZAID's engagement in Bougainville, an autonomous region in Papua New Guinea, includes strengthening its law and justice system. Through the Bougainville Community Policing Project, the New Zealand Police, funded by NZAID, provide training and support to the Bougainville Police Service and CAP, who help communities deal with law and order problems in consultation with village courts and traditional leaders.
Although matrilineal societies are common in Bougainville, gender inequality is entrenched throughout Papua New Guinea and is a fundamental contributing factor to many development challenges in the country. While the objective of a 20 percent female CAP force is yet to be achieved, the first course of all female graduates is a major step forward bringing the numbers up to 16 percent.
Previously women in the rural villages and regions of Bougainville did not have access to a female officer; creating a significant problem as some cultures prohibit females from discussing any type of sexual offending with a male police officer.
For more information contact Mike Sansom.
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