Te Ururoa Flavell: Key policies really helping people

Wendy Biddle and her son Rapata, 11, is one family who will benefit from the free GP visits for under-13s. Photo / File

Tena ano tatou katoa.

The Maori Party is proud of the influence we have had in shaping the past seven Budgets, we are always looking for ways in which our whanau are supported in every-day circumstances.

So I was pleased last week, on July 1, some of our key policies and Budget gains from 2014 have come into effect.

All children under the age of 13 will now have access to free GP visits and prescriptions.

Here in Rotorua, the good news is that all 18 of the general practices who operate under the Rotorua Area Primary Health Services have confirmed they have signed up to offer these free visits, which means that now, we will have around 750,000 children who are able to receive medical treatment as and when needed without their whanau having to worry about the cost.

Unfortunately, Lakes Prime Care have not signed up - so try to get your tamariki in to your GP as soon as they are sick, don't leave it until they need urgent care.

We also pushed hard for an increase to the maximum paid parental leave entitlement, which has now risen from $504.10 to $516.85 per week. These are gains that we negotiated hard on, so I am pleased that they will make a difference to many of our families.

There are a few other initiatives out there that I do want to touch on today, to ensure that people know what they can access for free in our community.

Specsavers launched their own new initiative recently called "Kids Go Free". This offer entitles every New Zealander under 16 years of age to have their eyes tested at Specsavers to ensure that any vision problems are picked up early, through a comprehensive eye test. These free eye tests can be booked at any of the 51 Specsavers stores nationwide by booking online www.specsavers.co.nz or by phoning your local store.

Our wahine who are hapu are able to access free dental services in Rotorua at the moment, in a bid to improve the oral health of their tamariki. This is currently available as a trial, and has criteria attached. Referrals are made to participating dentists by a GP or midwife. To find out more, ask your doctor or midwife to refer you, or phone Tipu Ora on 0800 348 2400.

Finally, my office has spent a lot of time recently assisting whanau with ensuring that they are living in homes that are healthy and warm. As a result of our negotiations in 2009, the Warm Up New Zealand programme has been able to give priority to the insulation of homes for New Zealanders in high need groups - the elderly and very young, Maori, those living in remote regions and low income families.

There are still subsidies available, for those who meet the criteria, to have their ceilings and under floor insulated. Visit http://www.energywise.govt.nz/ for more information about this subsidy and the contact details for local providers.

Similarly, there are organisations out there who provide free curtains to those in need, to help keep the cold out. The Curtain Bank here in Rotorua have too many curtains in stock so if you are in a home that needs good warm curtains, contact my office.

I welcome your feedback.

-Email mpwaiariki@parliament.govt.nz or call (0508) 924 274.