New Zealand opens its purse

New Zealand is spending about Sl6 million in direct aid in the South Pacific this year. Fiji will receive about 52.8 million, and over the next three years will get about $lO million to be spent in conjunction with Development Plan Seven. Mr David McDowell, head of the external aid division of the NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said after talks with Fiji Government officials that much of the money would go to schemes in rural areas.

The emphasis over the next two or three years would be very much on projects outside Suva and to some extent, projects outside Viti Levu. What the next development plan covers is not yet known. It is unlikely to be published till just before the start of the period (1976-80) it will cover.

Current New Zealand projects in Fiji include pine afforestation in the western division, an abattoir at Nasinu, installation of $400,000-worth of equipment at the Rewa Co-op Dairy Co’s factory at Nabua, near Suva, and managerial and technical help with the Ra cattle scheme. A series of water and sewerage schemes for seven towns is under discussion.