Whanau Ora minister Tariana Turia. Photo / APN
Whanau Ora will be expanded nationwide with Maori education to receive $103.5 million in new and reprioritised spending in the Budget.
There are 158 health and social service providers across 25 collectives beginning to deliver Whanau Ora, the Maori Party's platform social policy.
Yesterday's announcement means eight new provider collectives
will be added with $30 million marked for spending over four years.
Whanau Ora minister Tariana Turia said the investment ensured national coverage during the next two years and described the extra funding as "bold and innovative".
Maori Affairs and Associate Education Minister Dr Pita Sharples said the Budget maintained momentum for the Government's Maori affairs programmes.
Education received $20 million new Maori specific spending and $83.5 million of reprioritised spending. That would impact on achievement levels, Dr Sharples said.
"These initiatives help teachers to engage with whanau to improve Maori achievement at school through better support for student identity, language and culture - ingredients for educational success which are often missing."
One educationalist, Victoria University's Dr James Graham, said while the education cake looked significant for Maori at first glance, the multi-year spend meant the total impact would be diluted over time.
He said the kura kaupapa sector would also be disappointed that it appeared no new spending had been set aside to train more teachers - an issue which would not go away.
The Vote Maori component of the Budget last year was $199.8 million and included Whanau Ora.
This year Whanau Ora spending was separated out, however, when added to Vote Maori the total spend was $195 million.
Labour Party MP Shane Jones said the Budget did nothing but shuffle existing budgets around.
"There's no new spending, there's absolutely no fresh energy or resources to support Maori.
"This is the Pita and Paora Budget - where the Maori Party have nicked from Pita to tuck up Paora."
He said the Budget did little to address Maori unemployment which was running at 13.9 per cent, compared to the national 6.6 per cent.
