May 01, 2020
Maori pandemic fund well spent
The effective use of the $50 million allocated to Māori responses to COVID-19 means the Government is looking to put further funding into those channels.
Whānau Ora Minister Peeni Henare says the money paid for 120,000 care packages distributed through whānau ora providers, targeted services from Māori health providers including ensuring a high rate of flu vaccinations among Māori, support for marae and helping iwi develop pandemic plans.
"The reports that have come through that show the numbers of testing, show the numbers of support that whānau ora are giving is a good foundation to push for more pūtea to support those services and that is the challenge for my colleagues and myself and I am pretty confident we will do ok," Mr Henare says.
He is also discussing with commissioning agencies and providers how whānau ora navigators can now play a greater role in connecting people to jobs and training as the focus switches to economic revival.
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