Ten staffers have gone from the NZ AIDS Foundation in recent months as the organisation downsizes itself to work within the constraints of a budget which has been capped for six years. The latest departure was research and science expert Tony Hughes who was formally farewelled last evening. Hughes had been the intellectual and strategic driver of the NZAF for 32 years but opted to leave and not take up a modified role when his position was effectively disestablished. Although the NZAF does not comment on staff employment matters GayNZ.com Daily News understands Charlie Tredway, a more recent appointee who was crowned Mr Gay New Zealand earlier this year, has also departed. The downsizing of the NZAF is in response to budget pressures following several years during which it has run up a debt of half a million dollars while trying to maintain services, particularly its HIV prevention programmes. The Foundation is currently in negotiation with the ministry of Health over its funding for the next three years but is on public record as believing HIV prevention has dropped off the government's public health priority list. Meanwhile, a list of questions regarding HIV funding and priorities sent to Minister of Health Jonathan Coleman by GayNZ.com Daily News on March 15th and concurrently published by GayNZ.com has generated no response.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Saturday, 29th April 2017 - 10:52pm