Roana Bennett, Te Taumata o Ngati Whakaue Iho Ake Trust general manager, says she is pleased to see today's Budget's focus on education, particularly early childhood education.
"Where I have my reservations is in how those appropriations are going to be implemented and spent on the ground. The policy makers still do not fully understand the requirements at the community level in terms of effective government spend.
"Yes, they've got the broad key points right, but for me the jury is out as to how that gets translated on the ground.
"Early childhood is one of the big winners: there is nearly $400 million over the next four years to go to early childhood centres. My issue with that is it should be on quality, not just quantity.
"There is compelling evidence that a young child who experiences quality earlier childhood education succeeds at school. What makes up quality early childhood for Ngati Whakaue is for a centre to incorporate a child's identity, language and culture in the early childhood environment."