About NZAID

NZAID is the agency within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade that manages New Zealand's official development assistance (ODA) programme and provides policy advice on international development issues. NZAID has its own Vote and management arrangements tailored to its core business.

NZAID's mission is to:

Support sustainable development in developing countries in order to reduce poverty and to contribute to a more secure, equitable, and prosperous world.

Sustainable development is about working with partner countries to help them meet communities' economic, social, and environmental needs today without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Sustainable economic development as NZAID's core focus recognises that reducing poverty is inherantly linked to economic growth and trade and vice versa.

There are strong linkages between sustainable economic development, human development, safe and just societies and poverty reduction. Sustainable economic development is necessary to address poverty, and is itself necessarily underpinned by health, education, environmental considerations, accountable governments with capable public services, and a regulatory environment and infrastructure that assists private sector development.

Nga Hoe Tuputupu-mai-tawhiti – the paddles that bring growth from afar – is the Maori name for NZAID. This evocative name reflects New Zealand’s Pacific heritage and the partnership principles of the Treaty of Waitangi.

Reducing poverty has been central to NZAID's mission since the agency was established by the Government in July 2002. New Zealand's Official Development Assistance (ODA) Programme has a regional focus on the Pacific, reflecting on the Government's commitment to be a good international citizen and neighbour.

NZAID has a competent and dedicated team of development specialists and up-to-date policies and programmes focused on making a significant contribution to international development and poverty reduction efforts.

NZAID helps to support sustainable development and reduce poverty through development partnerships, particularly in the Pacific region, and also supports projects in Asia, southern Africa and Latin America.