Mahuta says no to Ukraine

The Herald reports:

A desperate plea from the besieged Ukrainian Government to a New Zealand agri-business company for specialist help for the 2023 grain harvest was blocked by Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta, the Herald can reveal.

New documents released to the Herald under the Official Information Act show how a direct request from the Ukrainian Minister of Agriculture and Food, Mykola Solskyi, for high-speed and mobile grain stackers was declined.

Why would we say no to this? Their grain harvest feeds many countries and the damage to it has pushed up world food prices.

But the minister declined the application, saying the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) does not currently have a development co-operation programme for Ukraine and “at this stage the Government’s focus is on humanitarian assistance to meet immediate needs, and responding to Ukraine’s requests for military equipment in defence of its sovereignty and territorial integrity”.

This is an appalling example of process over substance. Declining the request because it doesn’t tick the right box, or fit within an existing programme.

A good Government would look at the merits of the issue, the importance of the assistance, and make a decision on a one-off basis.