New Zealand is topping other countries' aid efforts to the Pacific Islands, according to a new index compiled by Australian academics.
The Alfred Deakin Research Institute-Sustineo Pacific Index was launched in Canberra yesterday.
It ranks and assesses 27 OECD countries on aid, trade, migration, finance, security, the creation and dissemination of new technologies and the promotion of environmental sustainability.
New Zealand index score ranks nearly twice that of Australia - primarily because of its aid, migration and security efforts.
The top five donor countries in the Pacific region are: New Zealand, Australia, Denmark, Finland and Portugal.
However, it does not measure the aid given by China because of a lack of data.
The authors say the index will be used for advocacy to get all rich countries to do more in the Pacific, and not just by increasing their aid.
