By most global wealth measures, New Zealand is within roughly the top 7% of the world’s wealthiest countries.

That means the NZ dollar has what economists call high Purchasing Power Parity (PPP): a way of comparing what the same amount of money can buy in different countries.

In practical terms, PPP means that the NZD has far greater buying power in developing nations. A donation that might cover a single hour of skilled labour in New Zealand can fund a full day’s work for a community health worker overseas. The cost of essentials — food staples, building materials, transport, and locally produced goods — is often three to five times lower than in New Zealand.

For New Zealand donors to CWS, this is powerful.

It means your support translates into more training delivered, more families reached, more crops planted, and more children supported. When you give to CWS, the impact is multiplied many fold in the hands of our trusted partners — by the simple economic reality that your New Zealand dollar buys more where the need is greatest.