NZ First Leader Winston Peters
"If you're looking at the long-term interest of New Zealand and indeed of the Pacific, this is what we're going to have to do and I believe the majority of New Zealand people understand that".
New Zealand's aid support for multilateral and humanitarian agencies has declined over the past nine years and sits well below global averages, the government said in a statement.
"Investment in practical projects, like the climate resilience project to reclaim land for urban development in Kiribati, will help protect Pacific homelands and cultures, and also reduce migration challenges in the years to come", he said.
"Stepping up our financial contribution to multilateral institutions like the United Nations bodies and the World Bank will show New Zealand's seriousness in being a responsible worldwide citizen".
"New Zealand now lies at the bottom of the OECD in terms of its contribution to multi-lateral institutions".
"We refocused quite a bit of our foreign affairs spend from being offshore in other areas - like in the United Kingdom and the Middle East - and we focused it back into the Pacific region".
"We had hoped that Winston Peters would put an end to these taxpayer-funded contributions - especially since his government has declared funding deficits in health and education at home in New Zealand".
Peters said the announcement reflected the "critical role" MFAT played in keeping New Zealand safe and prosperous. "But its challenges are mounting, and we alone can not address them all", he said.
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Peters did not specifically mention China in his speech, although he did say the South Pacific region had become an increasingly contested strategic space and that New Zealand had its eyes "wide open" to such trends.
"We want our like-minded partners to focus more on the Pacific", he said, referring to a broad strategy to pool energies and resources with "partners who uphold the values of transparency, good governance and democracy".
"What is good for them is good for us".
The funding boost for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) will also see New Zealand's diplomatic corps increased by another 50 positions.
"When there's a disaster, New Zealand is always the first to respond", he said.
Bridges also said the $1b spend proved the Government's claims of underfunding in health and education were "ludicrous".
The National Party is questioning why the government is sending millions of dollars overseas while talking about crises in underfunding at home.The National Party is questioning why the government is sending millions of dollars overseas while talking about crises in underfunding at home.
Opposition leader Simon Bridges expressed his disapproval of the plan, saying the government was putting diplomats ahead of more important priorities like doctors.
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