January 24, 2020
Minister told to leave whanau ora to commissioning agencies
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The chair of the North Island Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency says all the extra funding for the programme should have gone to the agencies.
Merepeka Raukawa-Tait along with Dame Tariana Turia, Dame Iritana Tawhiwhirangi, Dame Rangimarie Naida Glavish and Lady Tureiti Moxon have been invited to meet with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to discuss the concerns that led them to this week file a claim with the Waitangi Tribunal.
Whānau Ora Minister Peeni Henare says he has identified four projects to be funded directly with money kept back from last year’s Budget, and the remaining $3 million can go to the agencies.
Mrs Raukawa-Tait says she’s not happy with that decision.
"His own review said we need to do more but we need more funding so he should have just said 'here you go, there's that total whanau ora budget that was acquired in the Budget last year, $80 million, there you go, go and do what you have to do.' Why would the Minister of Whanau Oro go out looking for other projects when he has a commissioning agency that handles everything? To me it just beggars belief," she says.
Merepreka Raukawa-Tait
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