From RNZ · RNZ | Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa · · 1m 20s
NZ First calls National's foreign aid cut promise desperate
National's foreign aid cut plan sparks backlash from NZ First and praise from ACT.
In brief
National's foreign aid cut plan sparks backlash from NZ First and praise from ACT. National's plan to redirect $820m from foreign aid to health programs faces criticism from NZ First as 'desperate' while ACT calls it a win to boost medicine funding. Originally reported by RNZ.
National announces health funding shift
National leader Christopher Luxon and health spokesperson Simeon Brown announced a plan to redirect over $820m from non-Pacific foreign aid budgets to health programs.
NZ First calls policy dangerous
NZ First leader Winston Peters labeled National's foreign aid cut promise 'desperate' and 'dangerous', saying it jeopardizes economic growth.
“We need to double the size of the economy and we cannot do that if we neglect the very markets we need to be in.”
ACT welcomes policy as win
ACT leader David Seymour praised National's plan as a win for the coalition, promising faster progress on medicine funding and foreign aid cuts.
“National's policy equates to about one third of what ACT is proposing, but we are confident we can push the coalition to go further and faster.”
ACT targets trans-Tasman funding gap
ACT aims to lift the medicine budget from 4.9 percent of the health budget to 12.2 percent by targeting a 1 percentage point increase per year.
World Vision expresses disappointment
World Vision's head of advocacy Rebekah Armstrong called National's foreign aid cuts 'really disappointing', warning of global humanitarian impacts.
“We've seen a real worldwide reduction of foreign aid at a time when there is more humanitarian need than ever before.”
National's foreign aid cuts face scrutiny
World Vision states the budget for foreign aid is already small but has made a 'tremendous impact' on thousands of people globally.
At a glance
National's plan to redirect $820m from foreign aid to health programs faces criticism from NZ First as 'desperate' while ACT calls it a win to boost medicine funding.
