26 May 2005

New Zealand to help resettle squatters in Fiji

4:17 pm on 26 May 2005

The New Zealand Government aid agency, NZAID, is working with the Fiji Government to try and rehouse some of the tens of thousands living in squatter settlements in Fiji.

NZAID has more money for its programmes in the Pacific following last week's Budget and some of this is going into a pilot project on helping the squatters with their housing, health, education, water and employment needs.

Craig Hawke of NZAID says they are working with local agencies to isolate land where housing and utilities can be established.

He says it is very small scale at this stage.

"It's very early but it is trying to signal, I guess, our willingness and support to work with Fiji to try and look at the issues surrounding people living in squatter settlements."