Why are we giving $10 million a year in aid to Niue with a population of 1600? It’s $6250 per person each bloody year. About half their GDP (most of the rest is remittances). We finance their whole government.
We’ve given them an extra $20 million (ie one whole year’s GDP) over the last five years for tourism. Most of it seems to have disappeared into Talagi’s pocket.
It’s just ridiculous. We shouldn’t pretend a first-world economy can be built on a rock in the middle of the ocean with the population of Bulls. We’re propping up a totally unsustainable economy and getting bugger all to show for it. For $10 million we could be making a real difference to many many more people in Africa or in the slums of Kolkata.
That said, don’t like this ‘I’m relaxed’ attitude from Key. The only reason to keep throwing money into this black-hole is geo-strategic. We want to keep China’s influence in the Pacific down. They’re anti-democratic and don’t give a damn about human rights. So, if we do cut aid we must do it cognisant that China will fill the void to expand its sphere of influence.
Serious decision. The kind a PM takes all the time. Needs more than a shrug of the shoulders and a grin.
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