The Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee is now seeking public submissions on the Foreign Affairs (Consular Loans) Amendment Bill.

The bill would expressly authorise the long-standing practice of the Minister of Foreign Affairs lending money to, or for, New Zealand citizens and permanent residents who are outside New Zealand. Before lending the money the Minister would need to be satisfied that the person receiving the loan is in distress, that exceptional circumstances exist, and that lending money would provide short-term assistance consistent with New Zealand’s consular functions.

The bill would also validate the consular loans granted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, in good faith, after the Public Finance Act 1989 was amended in 2013 and before the Ministry received delegated authority in 2020 to lend money under the Public Finance Act.

Tell the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee what you think

Make a submission on the bill by 11.59pm on 8 September 2022.

For more details about the bill:

· Read the full content of the bill

• Get more details about the bill
• What's been said in Parliament about the bill?
• Follow the committee's Facebook page for updates

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