NZ gives $1 million for Afghanistan elections

Marian Hobbs

A day after New Zealand stages its own election, it will also be helping with another -- in Afghanistan.

Aid Minister Marian Hobbs has announced New Zealand will contribute $1 million to the United Nations to help with running democratic elections in Afghanistan on September 18.

She has met Afghani Foreign Minister Dr Abdullah Abdullah who noted during his visit here that New Zealand had offered significant support to Afghanistan during a difficult time.

"This new funding emphasises New Zealand's commitment to helping Afghanistan progress towards a strong and fair democracy and comes on top of the $1 million we gave in March, also in support of the electoral process," Ms Hobbs said.

The money would go to a UN fund supporting a wide range of activities related to the elections, including logistics, staffing, public information and support for the registration process.

"By comparison with New Zealand's current election process, Afghanistan's National Assembly elections are truly challenging in scale," Ms Hobbs said.

Although the total number of candidates was unknown at this stage, as many as 5000 to 10,000 candidates across all of the provincial councils and Wolesi Jirga (lower house) constituencies could be elected.

Ms Hobbs said 11 million Afghanis were registered to vote in the recent presidential elections and it was likely the roll would be even greater for the National Assembly elections.

Polling would take place on September 18 in an estimated 30,000 polling stations in 5000 locations throughout Afghanistan. There would be almost 200,000 polling staff.

Currently there are 180 New Zealand Defence Force staff stationed in Afghanistan helping with reconstruction.

By the end of this year, New Zealand would have contributed more than $110 million to Afghanistan.

- NZPA