Latest news with #WorldVisionNewZealand
Scoop
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scoop
More Than 60 Landmarks In 22 Locations Across Aotearoa To Light Up Orange For World Vision 40 Hour Challenge
Press Release – World Vision This is the fifth year that a multitude of New Zealands most recognisable monuments will shine orange to raise awareness for the fundraising campaign, which helps to make a life-changing difference to children around the world. An orange glow will light up across Aotearoa on the evening of 13 June, as 63 iconic Kiwi landmarks show their support for the World Vision 40 Hour Challenge, the nation's largest youth fundraising event. This is the fifth year that a multitude of New Zealand's most recognisable monuments will shine orange to raise awareness for the fundraising campaign, which helps to make a life-changing difference to children around the world. This year's World Vision 40 Hour Challenge is encouraging rangatahi to give up technology and go 'offline for 40 Hours' to unplug, disconnect, and get together with their friends and whānau while completing a challenge to raise funds for children who struggle to get enough to eat each day due to climate change in Solomon Islands. World Vision Associate National Director, TJ Grant, says young people today live very 'online' lives and that means going offline for 40 hours is the ultimate challenge. He says World Vision New Zealand surveyed participants who did the World Vision 40 Hour Challenge last year and half of the survey participants said a 'no tech' challenge would be the most difficult challenge for them. Some of the key monuments lighting up in Auckland during the World Vision 40 Hour Challenge Weekend (13-15 June) include Eden Park, Spark Arena, Vero Centre, Sylvia Park, and Mānawa Bay Premium Outlet Centre. Other key monuments lighting up across Aotearoa, include Christchurch Airport, Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, The Michael Fowler Centre in Wellington, The Botanical Gardens in Christchurch, the Saxton Oval Pavilion in Nelson, and Queens Park in Invercargill. Unique and iconic landmarks lighting up orange this year include the tunnel at Wellington Cable Cars, the Big Carrot in Ohakune, the Big Fruit in Cromwell, the KZ1 boat at Auckland's Maritime Museum, and the corrugated iron Sheepdog in Tirau. Grant says he's overwhelmed at the number of landmarks supporting this year's World Vision 40 Hour Challenge. 'The challenge young Kiwis are taking on during the campaign weekend will help to raise funds that will feed families in Solomon Islands who are on the frontlines of climate change. Funds will give families tools and seeds to farm climate-smart crops, plant mangroves to protect their land from rising sea levels and restore fish populations and provide sustainable food sources for future generations to ensure children can grow up healthy and strong in a changing climate.' Owner of Vero Centre, Kiwi Property, says, 'We are proud to support World Vision's 40 Hour Challenge by illuminating the iconic Vero Centre halo in orange this June, helping to raise awareness for this important cause.' The World Vision 40 Hour Challenge takes place from June 13 – June 15. Sign up to take part in this year's World Vision 40 Hour Challenge, or donate, at: The full list of landmarks lighting up orange on 13-15 June includes: Arrowtown: Lakes District Museum & Gallery Ashburton: Clocktower Auckland: Eden Park, Spark Arena, Maritime Museum KZ1 boat, PWC Tower, Vero Centre, The Aotea Centre, Sylvia Park, Dominion Road, St. Peters Church (Onehunga), and Mānawa Bay Premium Outlet Centre Christchurch: Christchurch Airport, The Botanical Gardens, The Bridge of Remembrance, New Brighton Pier, Captain Scott Plaza, The Bowker Fountain (Victoria Square), Vaka a Hina, Memorial Gateway Bridge, Christchurch Town Hall Ferrier Fountain, Fanfare Sculpture, Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū Cromwell: Big Fruit Dunedin: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin Airport, Golden Centre Mall (digital screens), Tuhura Otago Museum, Wall Street Mall, Otago Boys High School Gisborne: Gisborne Clock Tower Invercargill: Queens Park (Feldwich Gates, Band Rotunda, and Gala Street Fountain) Napier: The Gold of the Kowhai Sculpture and Tom Parker Fountain Nelson: Saxton Oval Pavilion New Plymouth: New Plymouth Clock Tower Oamaru: Oamaru Opera House Ohakune: Big Carrot Palmerston North: Hopwood Clock Tower Tauranga: Wharf Street Lights, Beacon Wharf, Masonic Park, Waterfront- North and playground, Tunks Reserve Te Aroha: Clock Tower Tirau: The Big Sheep Dog Waitaki: Craig Fountain Waitoma: Tree of Light Wellington: Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington Cable Car tunnel, Wellington Airport, Kelburn Park Fountain, Hikitia, Nga Kina sculpture and Promenades, Queens Wharf sails shades
Scoop
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scoop
More Than 60 Landmarks In 22 Locations Across Aotearoa To Light Up Orange For World Vision 40 Hour Challenge
Press Release – World Vision An orange glow will light up across Aotearoa on the evening of 13 June, as 63 iconic Kiwi landmarks show their support for the World Vision 40 Hour Challenge, the nation's largest youth fundraising event. This is the fifth year that a multitude of New Zealand's most recognisable monuments will shine orange to raise awareness for the fundraising campaign, which helps to make a life-changing difference to children around the world. This year's World Vision 40 Hour Challenge is encouraging rangatahi to give up technology and go 'offline for 40 Hours' to unplug, disconnect, and get together with their friends and whānau while completing a challenge to raise funds for children who struggle to get enough to eat each day due to climate change in Solomon Islands. World Vision Associate National Director, TJ Grant, says young people today live very 'online' lives and that means going offline for 40 hours is the ultimate challenge. He says World Vision New Zealand surveyed participants who did the World Vision 40 Hour Challenge last year and half of the survey participants said a 'no tech' challenge would be the most difficult challenge for them. Some of the key monuments lighting up in Auckland during the World Vision 40 Hour Challenge Weekend (13-15 June) include Eden Park, Spark Arena, Vero Centre, Sylvia Park, and Mānawa Bay Premium Outlet Centre. Other key monuments lighting up across Aotearoa, include Christchurch Airport, Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, The Michael Fowler Centre in Wellington, The Botanical Gardens in Christchurch, the Saxton Oval Pavilion in Nelson, and Queens Park in Invercargill. Unique and iconic landmarks lighting up orange this year include the tunnel at Wellington Cable Cars, the Big Carrot in Ohakune, the Big Fruit in Cromwell, the KZ1 boat at Auckland's Maritime Museum, and the corrugated iron Sheepdog in Tirau. Grant says he's overwhelmed at the number of landmarks supporting this year's World Vision 40 Hour Challenge. 'The challenge young Kiwis are taking on during the campaign weekend will help to raise funds that will feed families in Solomon Islands who are on the frontlines of climate change. Funds will give families tools and seeds to farm climate-smart crops, plant mangroves to protect their land from rising sea levels and restore fish populations and provide sustainable food sources for future generations to ensure children can grow up healthy and strong in a changing climate.' Owner of Vero Centre, Kiwi Property, says, 'We are proud to support World Vision's 40 Hour Challenge by illuminating the iconic Vero Centre halo in orange this June, helping to raise awareness for this important cause.' The World Vision 40 Hour Challenge takes place from June 13 – June 15. Sign up to take part in this year's World Vision 40 Hour Challenge, or donate, at: The full list of landmarks lighting up orange on 13-15 June includes: Arrowtown: Lakes District Museum & Gallery Ashburton: Clocktower Auckland: Eden Park, Spark Arena, Maritime Museum KZ1 boat, PWC Tower, Vero Centre, The Aotea Centre, Sylvia Park, Dominion Road, St. Peters Church (Onehunga), and Mānawa Bay Premium Outlet Centre Christchurch: Christchurch Airport, The Botanical Gardens, The Bridge of Remembrance, New Brighton Pier, Captain Scott Plaza, The Bowker Fountain (Victoria Square), Vaka a Hina, Memorial Gateway Bridge, Christchurch Town Hall Ferrier Fountain, Fanfare Sculpture, Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū Cromwell: Big Fruit Dunedin: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin Airport, Golden Centre Mall (digital screens), Tuhura Otago Museum, Wall Street Mall, Otago Boys High School Gisborne: Gisborne Clock Tower Invercargill: Queens Park (Feldwich Gates, Band Rotunda, and Gala Street Fountain) Napier: The Gold of the Kowhai Sculpture and Tom Parker Fountain Nelson: Saxton Oval Pavilion New Plymouth: New Plymouth Clock Tower Oamaru: Oamaru Opera House Ohakune: Big Carrot Palmerston North: Hopwood Clock Tower Tauranga: Wharf Street Lights, Beacon Wharf, Masonic Park, Waterfront- North and playground, Tunks Reserve Te Aroha: Clock Tower Tirau: The Big Sheep Dog Waitaki: Craig Fountain Waitoma: Tree of Light Wellington: Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington Cable Car tunnel, Wellington Airport, Kelburn Park Fountain, Hikitia, Nga Kina sculpture and Promenades, Queens Wharf sails shades
The Advertiser
23-05-2025
- Business
- The Advertiser
New Zealand takes scalpel to foreign aid budget
New Zealand has slashed foreign aid to its lowest level in four years, with specific cuts to climate finance, in a move decried by the international development sector as a broken promise. Finance Minister Nicola Willis unveiled the coalition's second budget on Thursday, with a headline deficit of $NZ14.7 billion ($A13.5 billion). Budget documents show official development assistance (ODA) spending dropping from $NZ1.1 billion last year to $NZ999 million this year, its lowest level since 2021. These figures do not include a drop in the cost of managing ODA, also cut by seven per cent from $NZ100 million to $NZ92.7 million. In parliament, Ms Willis said the $NZ100 million cut was in the area of climate finance - which is aid given to developing nations to help them adapt or mitigate to the threat of global warming. Budget papers show the government replacing a previous $NZ200 million annual commitment with a $NZ100 million budget line, but with no guarantees it will be spend on climate finance. "The new funding will be used for (aid) projects with a priority focus on the Pacific. It will not be exclusively focused on meeting climate finance objectives," the budget states. Terence Wood, ANU-based development fellow, called the new budget a "grim tale". "When inflation is taken into account, by 2026/27 New Zealand aid will have fallen to 2019 levels, and it will have done so over a period where - thanks to climate change, illness and war - the need for aid has been rising fast," he wrote. According to World Vision, New Zealand's aid is now 0.24 per cent of gross national income, well short of the UN-backed goal of 0.7 per cent. World Vision New Zealand director Grant Bayldon said the cut in climate finance amounted to New Zealand "turning its back on the Pacific region". "New Zealand made a clear commitment under the Paris Agreement to support people in the world's most vulnerable countries to adapt to climate change," he said. "Many of them are our Pacific neighbours, where children are already facing the devastating impact of climate change. We promised to stand with them – now we're pulling back." Nick Henry, Oxfam Aotearoa's climate justice lead, said the cuts came after New Zealand made commitments to triple climate financing by 2030 at the UN's climate summit last year. "This is really hard to understand as anything other than a breaking of that promise and a betrayal of our Pacific neighbours," he told NZ website Newsroom. Ms Willis told parliament Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters argued for more aid. "Members will not be surprised to know that the Minister of Foreign Affairs has made a case for more funding, and this will be looked at in future budgets," she told parliament in her budget speech. The tough budgetary treatment for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) stands in contrast to the coalition's first budget. In 2024, Mr Peters was able to spare MFAT from cuts averaging seven per cent to most agencies, instead given a one per cent reduction. Mr Peters - who was in Adelaide on Friday for the six-monthly dialogue with Australia's foreign minister - did not respond to a request for comment. In its most recent budget, Australia increased foreign aid in real terms, but the amount also fell to 0.18 per cent of GNI. New Zealand has slashed foreign aid to its lowest level in four years, with specific cuts to climate finance, in a move decried by the international development sector as a broken promise. Finance Minister Nicola Willis unveiled the coalition's second budget on Thursday, with a headline deficit of $NZ14.7 billion ($A13.5 billion). Budget documents show official development assistance (ODA) spending dropping from $NZ1.1 billion last year to $NZ999 million this year, its lowest level since 2021. These figures do not include a drop in the cost of managing ODA, also cut by seven per cent from $NZ100 million to $NZ92.7 million. In parliament, Ms Willis said the $NZ100 million cut was in the area of climate finance - which is aid given to developing nations to help them adapt or mitigate to the threat of global warming. Budget papers show the government replacing a previous $NZ200 million annual commitment with a $NZ100 million budget line, but with no guarantees it will be spend on climate finance. "The new funding will be used for (aid) projects with a priority focus on the Pacific. It will not be exclusively focused on meeting climate finance objectives," the budget states. Terence Wood, ANU-based development fellow, called the new budget a "grim tale". "When inflation is taken into account, by 2026/27 New Zealand aid will have fallen to 2019 levels, and it will have done so over a period where - thanks to climate change, illness and war - the need for aid has been rising fast," he wrote. According to World Vision, New Zealand's aid is now 0.24 per cent of gross national income, well short of the UN-backed goal of 0.7 per cent. World Vision New Zealand director Grant Bayldon said the cut in climate finance amounted to New Zealand "turning its back on the Pacific region". "New Zealand made a clear commitment under the Paris Agreement to support people in the world's most vulnerable countries to adapt to climate change," he said. "Many of them are our Pacific neighbours, where children are already facing the devastating impact of climate change. We promised to stand with them – now we're pulling back." Nick Henry, Oxfam Aotearoa's climate justice lead, said the cuts came after New Zealand made commitments to triple climate financing by 2030 at the UN's climate summit last year. "This is really hard to understand as anything other than a breaking of that promise and a betrayal of our Pacific neighbours," he told NZ website Newsroom. Ms Willis told parliament Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters argued for more aid. "Members will not be surprised to know that the Minister of Foreign Affairs has made a case for more funding, and this will be looked at in future budgets," she told parliament in her budget speech. The tough budgetary treatment for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) stands in contrast to the coalition's first budget. In 2024, Mr Peters was able to spare MFAT from cuts averaging seven per cent to most agencies, instead given a one per cent reduction. Mr Peters - who was in Adelaide on Friday for the six-monthly dialogue with Australia's foreign minister - did not respond to a request for comment. In its most recent budget, Australia increased foreign aid in real terms, but the amount also fell to 0.18 per cent of GNI. New Zealand has slashed foreign aid to its lowest level in four years, with specific cuts to climate finance, in a move decried by the international development sector as a broken promise. Finance Minister Nicola Willis unveiled the coalition's second budget on Thursday, with a headline deficit of $NZ14.7 billion ($A13.5 billion). Budget documents show official development assistance (ODA) spending dropping from $NZ1.1 billion last year to $NZ999 million this year, its lowest level since 2021. These figures do not include a drop in the cost of managing ODA, also cut by seven per cent from $NZ100 million to $NZ92.7 million. In parliament, Ms Willis said the $NZ100 million cut was in the area of climate finance - which is aid given to developing nations to help them adapt or mitigate to the threat of global warming. Budget papers show the government replacing a previous $NZ200 million annual commitment with a $NZ100 million budget line, but with no guarantees it will be spend on climate finance. "The new funding will be used for (aid) projects with a priority focus on the Pacific. It will not be exclusively focused on meeting climate finance objectives," the budget states. Terence Wood, ANU-based development fellow, called the new budget a "grim tale". "When inflation is taken into account, by 2026/27 New Zealand aid will have fallen to 2019 levels, and it will have done so over a period where - thanks to climate change, illness and war - the need for aid has been rising fast," he wrote. According to World Vision, New Zealand's aid is now 0.24 per cent of gross national income, well short of the UN-backed goal of 0.7 per cent. World Vision New Zealand director Grant Bayldon said the cut in climate finance amounted to New Zealand "turning its back on the Pacific region". "New Zealand made a clear commitment under the Paris Agreement to support people in the world's most vulnerable countries to adapt to climate change," he said. "Many of them are our Pacific neighbours, where children are already facing the devastating impact of climate change. We promised to stand with them – now we're pulling back." Nick Henry, Oxfam Aotearoa's climate justice lead, said the cuts came after New Zealand made commitments to triple climate financing by 2030 at the UN's climate summit last year. "This is really hard to understand as anything other than a breaking of that promise and a betrayal of our Pacific neighbours," he told NZ website Newsroom. Ms Willis told parliament Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters argued for more aid. "Members will not be surprised to know that the Minister of Foreign Affairs has made a case for more funding, and this will be looked at in future budgets," she told parliament in her budget speech. The tough budgetary treatment for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) stands in contrast to the coalition's first budget. In 2024, Mr Peters was able to spare MFAT from cuts averaging seven per cent to most agencies, instead given a one per cent reduction. Mr Peters - who was in Adelaide on Friday for the six-monthly dialogue with Australia's foreign minister - did not respond to a request for comment. In its most recent budget, Australia increased foreign aid in real terms, but the amount also fell to 0.18 per cent of GNI. New Zealand has slashed foreign aid to its lowest level in four years, with specific cuts to climate finance, in a move decried by the international development sector as a broken promise. Finance Minister Nicola Willis unveiled the coalition's second budget on Thursday, with a headline deficit of $NZ14.7 billion ($A13.5 billion). Budget documents show official development assistance (ODA) spending dropping from $NZ1.1 billion last year to $NZ999 million this year, its lowest level since 2021. These figures do not include a drop in the cost of managing ODA, also cut by seven per cent from $NZ100 million to $NZ92.7 million. In parliament, Ms Willis said the $NZ100 million cut was in the area of climate finance - which is aid given to developing nations to help them adapt or mitigate to the threat of global warming. Budget papers show the government replacing a previous $NZ200 million annual commitment with a $NZ100 million budget line, but with no guarantees it will be spend on climate finance. "The new funding will be used for (aid) projects with a priority focus on the Pacific. It will not be exclusively focused on meeting climate finance objectives," the budget states. Terence Wood, ANU-based development fellow, called the new budget a "grim tale". "When inflation is taken into account, by 2026/27 New Zealand aid will have fallen to 2019 levels, and it will have done so over a period where - thanks to climate change, illness and war - the need for aid has been rising fast," he wrote. According to World Vision, New Zealand's aid is now 0.24 per cent of gross national income, well short of the UN-backed goal of 0.7 per cent. World Vision New Zealand director Grant Bayldon said the cut in climate finance amounted to New Zealand "turning its back on the Pacific region". "New Zealand made a clear commitment under the Paris Agreement to support people in the world's most vulnerable countries to adapt to climate change," he said. "Many of them are our Pacific neighbours, where children are already facing the devastating impact of climate change. We promised to stand with them – now we're pulling back." Nick Henry, Oxfam Aotearoa's climate justice lead, said the cuts came after New Zealand made commitments to triple climate financing by 2030 at the UN's climate summit last year. "This is really hard to understand as anything other than a breaking of that promise and a betrayal of our Pacific neighbours," he told NZ website Newsroom. Ms Willis told parliament Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters argued for more aid. "Members will not be surprised to know that the Minister of Foreign Affairs has made a case for more funding, and this will be looked at in future budgets," she told parliament in her budget speech. The tough budgetary treatment for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) stands in contrast to the coalition's first budget. In 2024, Mr Peters was able to spare MFAT from cuts averaging seven per cent to most agencies, instead given a one per cent reduction. Mr Peters - who was in Adelaide on Friday for the six-monthly dialogue with Australia's foreign minister - did not respond to a request for comment. In its most recent budget, Australia increased foreign aid in real terms, but the amount also fell to 0.18 per cent of GNI.
West Australian
23-05-2025
- Business
- West Australian
New Zealand takes scalpel to foreign aid budget
New Zealand has slashed foreign aid to its lowest level in four years, with specific cuts to climate finance, in a move decried by the international development sector as a broken promise. Finance Minister Nicola Willis unveiled the coalition's second budget on Thursday, with a headline deficit of $NZ14.7 billion ($A13.5 billion). Budget documents show official development assistance (ODA) spending dropping from $NZ1.1 billion last year to $NZ999 million this year, its lowest level since 2021. These figures do not include a drop in the cost of managing ODA, also cut by seven per cent from $NZ100 million to $NZ92.7 million. In parliament, Ms Willis said the $NZ100 million cut was in the area of climate finance - which is aid given to developing nations to help them adapt or mitigate to the threat of global warming. Budget papers show the government replacing a previous $NZ200 million annual commitment with a $NZ100 million budget line, but with no guarantees it will be spend on climate finance. "The new funding will be used for (aid) projects with a priority focus on the Pacific. It will not be exclusively focused on meeting climate finance objectives," the budget states. Terence Wood, ANU-based development fellow, called the new budget a "grim tale". "When inflation is taken into account, by 2026/27 New Zealand aid will have fallen to 2019 levels, and it will have done so over a period where - thanks to climate change, illness and war - the need for aid has been rising fast," he wrote. According to World Vision, New Zealand's aid is now 0.24 per cent of gross national income, well short of the UN-backed goal of 0.7 per cent. World Vision New Zealand director Grant Bayldon said the cut in climate finance amounted to New Zealand "turning its back on the Pacific region". "New Zealand made a clear commitment under the Paris Agreement to support people in the world's most vulnerable countries to adapt to climate change," he said. "Many of them are our Pacific neighbours, where children are already facing the devastating impact of climate change. We promised to stand with them – now we're pulling back." Nick Henry, Oxfam Aotearoa's climate justice lead, said the cuts came after New Zealand made commitments to triple climate financing by 2030 at the UN's climate summit last year. "This is really hard to understand as anything other than a breaking of that promise and a betrayal of our Pacific neighbours," he told NZ website Newsroom. Ms Willis told parliament Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters argued for more aid. "Members will not be surprised to know that the Minister of Foreign Affairs has made a case for more funding, and this will be looked at in future budgets," she told parliament in her budget speech. The tough budgetary treatment for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) stands in contrast to the coalition's first budget. In 2024, Mr Peters was able to spare MFAT from cuts averaging seven per cent to most agencies, instead given a one per cent reduction. Mr Peters - who was in Adelaide on Friday for the six-monthly dialogue with Australia's foreign minister - did not respond to a request for comment. In its most recent budget, Australia increased foreign aid in real terms, but the amount also fell to 0.18 per cent of GNI.
Perth Now
23-05-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
New Zealand takes scalpel to foreign aid budget
New Zealand has slashed foreign aid to its lowest level in four years, with specific cuts to climate finance, in a move decried by the international development sector as a broken promise. Finance Minister Nicola Willis unveiled the coalition's second budget on Thursday, with a headline deficit of $NZ14.7 billion ($A13.5 billion). Budget documents show official development assistance (ODA) spending dropping from $NZ1.1 billion last year to $NZ999 million this year, its lowest level since 2021. These figures do not include a drop in the cost of managing ODA, also cut by seven per cent from $NZ100 million to $NZ92.7 million. In parliament, Ms Willis said the $NZ100 million cut was in the area of climate finance - which is aid given to developing nations to help them adapt or mitigate to the threat of global warming. Budget papers show the government replacing a previous $NZ200 million annual commitment with a $NZ100 million budget line, but with no guarantees it will be spend on climate finance. "The new funding will be used for (aid) projects with a priority focus on the Pacific. It will not be exclusively focused on meeting climate finance objectives," the budget states. Terence Wood, ANU-based development fellow, called the new budget a "grim tale". "When inflation is taken into account, by 2026/27 New Zealand aid will have fallen to 2019 levels, and it will have done so over a period where - thanks to climate change, illness and war - the need for aid has been rising fast," he wrote. According to World Vision, New Zealand's aid is now 0.24 per cent of gross national income, well short of the UN-backed goal of 0.7 per cent. World Vision New Zealand director Grant Bayldon said the cut in climate finance amounted to New Zealand "turning its back on the Pacific region". "New Zealand made a clear commitment under the Paris Agreement to support people in the world's most vulnerable countries to adapt to climate change," he said. "Many of them are our Pacific neighbours, where children are already facing the devastating impact of climate change. We promised to stand with them – now we're pulling back." Nick Henry, Oxfam Aotearoa's climate justice lead, said the cuts came after New Zealand made commitments to triple climate financing by 2030 at the UN's climate summit last year. "This is really hard to understand as anything other than a breaking of that promise and a betrayal of our Pacific neighbours," he told NZ website Newsroom. Ms Willis told parliament Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters argued for more aid. "Members will not be surprised to know that the Minister of Foreign Affairs has made a case for more funding, and this will be looked at in future budgets," she told parliament in her budget speech. The tough budgetary treatment for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) stands in contrast to the coalition's first budget. In 2024, Mr Peters was able to spare MFAT from cuts averaging seven per cent to most agencies, instead given a one per cent reduction. Mr Peters - who was in Adelaide on Friday for the six-monthly dialogue with Australia's foreign minister - did not respond to a request for comment. In its most recent budget, Australia increased foreign aid in real terms, but the amount also fell to 0.18 per cent of GNI.
