New Zealand's minister of Pacific Islands Affairs says there has been no cut to funding at the ministry, despite claims by an opposition MP.
Hekia Parata says the baseline figure for the ministry in 2012 was boosted by just over 550 thousand US dollars in underspends from the previous two years which had been brought forward.
Additionally there had been about 170 thosuand US dollars for one off special projects.
Ms Parata says none of that money is in the 2013 allocation but the ministry's baseline funding for this year has not been cut.
Labour spokesperson for Pacific Island Affairs Su'a William Sio had said earlier that budget cuts at the Ministry were increasing pressure on a community already suffering high unemployment, low incomes and growing inequality.