The Government has been urged to focus its foreign aid spending on Pacific nations that will benefit more from financial support, rather than larger nations with debatable spending.

Oliver Bryan, of lobby group the Taxpayer's Union, has questioned why New Zealand provided money for countries like India and Pakistan last year when those countries' use of public funds included projects like space exploration and nuclear weapons.

New Zealand gave India just over $1 million during the same year it landed a buggy on the moon, whilst other countries like Indonesia were provided tens of millions in foreign aid..

Bryan said the official explanation from the Government around why the money was granted doesn't provide the union with enough confidence.

"Whilst our money isn't going directly to these programmes we would argue it should not be the purpose of foreign aid to passively endorse this country's spending," he told Summer Breakfast this morning.

"It seems to me they're taking the Kiwi taxpayer for a bit of a ride, taking many millions - the best part of $1 million has gone in the last year to countries with these space programmes."

Asked what New Zealand had claimed the money was going towards, Bryan said the aid was often spent on noble causes such as scholarships and educational needs.

He said the spending was commendable in these cases, but only if the country getting the money was proving to be taking the priorities of its citizens seriously.

"We would much rather our finite resources get to our neighbours in the Pacific and support things we can tangibly see making a difference.

"I mean, $1.2 million into a country like India with thirteen times the size economy of ours, it's not going to be more than a drop in the ocean, it just seems to be that we're passively supporting grandiose projects overseas when our foreign aid is not supposed to be doing that."

Bryan said he supported what Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters told the media following the coalition Government's election - confirming the Government would be re-assessing the way foreign aid was being spent and re-prioritising the funds.

"I think it's time for a complete re-evaluation to the approach of foreign aid and ensure it closely aligns with our values"

Bryan noted Pakistan as an example.

New Zealand gave $3.5 million to Pakistan in foreign aid, but Bryan noted the nation was the custodian of a nuclear weapons station - something New Zealand hasn't typically supported.

Asked if he'd stop providing aid to Pakistan altogether, Bryan said he would.

"I think it needs to be more in terms of what New Zealand can actually achieve in terms of soft power.

"Clearly the new Government wants to build relationships with the US, work more regionally. In that case, we need to work with countries that are a lot closer, where our aid can go a lot further, and that would be Pacific Island nations."