New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has detailed how its aid to Papua New Guinea for next month's APEC meeting is being spent.
The newly built APEC Haus in Papua New Guinea's capital Port Moresby which is to host the 2018 APEC Leaders Summit in mid-November. Photo: RNZ / Johnny Blades
The APEC leaders summit in PNG's capital Port Moresby, which begins in less than three weeks, is a huge logistical challenge for the local government.
PNG has relied heavily on help from a wide range of aid donors to prepare for the biggest event the country has ever held.
Australia, the USA, Indonesia and New Zealand are helping out in the area of security provisions for the summit. China has helped with much of the infrastructure development.
A spokesperson for the Ministry says New Zealand's support of up to NZ$15 million is targeted at areas including security assistance, including training from New Zealand's police and defence force.
It is also going towards building PNG's resilience to cybercrime, training its diplomats and helping ambulance operations.
But the Ministry stresses none of its money has been used to purchase hundreds of luxury vehicles being brought in for the event.
A spokesperson from the Ministry said New Zealand's "targeted package of support focusing on practical assistance and training" was in response to specific requests from PNG.
"We have also provided assistance for diplomatic training and other areas as requested by PNG, such as ambulance operations," the spokesperson said.
"To be clear, no New Zealand funding has been involved in the purchase of the Maseratis."
The support for APEC has come from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade baseline, with the overall package of funding approved in 2017.
It does not affect New Zealand's overall aid programme in PNG which focuses on renewable energy, agricultural development, and support for the country's autonomous region of Bougainville.