Little iwi support for welfare control

John Tamihere says he is disappointed but not surprised by the lack of backing for the proposal. Picture / Greg Bowker

A proposal to give control of welfare payments to Maori social support groups has drawn a mixed response from iwi leaders and social service providers.

In a heavy-hitting proposal on Friday, the National Maori Urban Authority called for the control of welfare money to be transferred from individuals to Maori social service providers.

The proposal was mooted as a way of ensuring benefit money is spent where it is most needed - on rent, power and food.

The authority also proposed cutting benefits for those who failed to use support systems, including training and early childhood education programmes following an urgent meeting last week.

However, Sonny Tau, chairman of Kaikohe-based iwi Ngapuhi, said the proposal was ludicrous and meant more bureaucracy for Maori in need to deal with.

"Trying to manage private homes is ludicrous. That is the job of the Government.

"We do not need another layer added to the system."

He said iwi organisations needed to focus on economic development to assist tribal members, and challenged urban authorities to concentrate on ensuring the Crown was doing its job.

Those views were backed by Ngai Tahu chief executive Tahu Potiki, who, while supportive of the authority's motives, said he could not support the concept.

"I know the frustration from social service providers, trying to get those who need the most help to gain confidence."

Tainui chairman Tuku Morgan said dysfunctional families came as a result of Maori becoming isolated from whanau and extended whanau groups.

"These are people who have lived in cities for too long, and have become just a number. The answer is in reconnecting them with whanau, networks and the marae."

Mr Morgan said there was a small percentage in all cultures who "fall through the cracks" regardless of what systems were put in place.

National Maori Urban Authority chief executive John Tamihere said he was disappointed but not surprised by the lack of backing for the proposal.

He said the problem was endemic in some communities and tough answers need to be provided.

"We talk about these problems, and nothing ever gets done. We have a solution and we will do everything we can to help our people."

However, mainstream service providers have heralded the announcement as a chance to review how welfare funding was spent.

Former Work and Income NZ boss Christine Rankin has called for a rethink of the current benefit system. Ms Rankin said the benefit system was for people to turn to in times of need, and urged careful Government consideration on how that system should be managed. As it stood it created dependency and the dangerous spin-offs from that were being seen more and more.

She said there were many people who spent their benefit responsibly, but there were also those who did not.

She said the dangerous spin-offs from that were what led to cases such as the deaths of the Kahui twins.

This stance was echoed by the Salvation Army social programme director Major Campbell Roberts.

Speaking on National Radio, Major Roberts said any debate around the issue needed to engage the community and look to change the system to better help at-risk and vulnerable families.

He said that while Mr Tamihere's proposal might not be the answer, it did raise questions about how benefits were administered.


Reader comment:

Tumeke to John I really didn't realise the figures until this report. Please get these figures in fact this acticle into the noses of the main media devas and demons hehe well those presentors paid well for their fortunes. Thank you for bringing this to my paradigm it does make adifference to see this all happen for us the natives, and try out viewing the maori tv for one whole day you might enjoy the activities too thank you again well done..hei kona me
- - - posted 11.00am July 7, 2006 by native inhabitant