Social Development Minister Paula Bennett has announced $1 million of funding for females to get long-term reversible contraception - such as an implant. Doctors visits would be covered as well as the cost of contraceptives, where the cost was not fully funded by Pharmac.
A Tauranga budget advice manager is saying "hallelujah".
"To me, it's nothing to do with freedom of choice, it's pure economics," Mrs Iliffe said.
Paula Bennett's reckoning is that, as the Government is introducing penalties for those who have more children while on a benefit as part of sweeping welfare reforms, it has a responsibility to ensure better access to contraception.
This seems wholly sensible to me. Yes, the policy is likely to insult all those smart, capable women who just happen to be on benefits. It's offensive to suggest taking a benefit predisposes women to unwanted pregnancies.
But the fact this initiative might cause offence is no reason to hold back. This is a straight-forward measure to offer access to a proven form of contraception. It will help some women ensure they don't make a stressful situation more stressful.
The real concern is that the long-acting contraceptives are only being offered to beneficiaries.
Contraception should be free for all, but - once again - working women are missing out on something they may also like to access.
Free long-acting, reversible contraception would stop some young women from ending up with unwanted pregnancies and requiring government assistance in the first place.
The reforms should also find a way to place some of the emphasis on men and their role in fathering children they do not intend to raise. Last time I checked, it took a man and a woman to create a child.
