Māori are the only real winners in Well Being Budget 
Martyn 'Bomber' Bradbury

Peel back the hype, and the vast increases in public spend are actually a recycling of old money.

Labour promised this budget would be 'transformational', unfortunately this is only true if you define 'transformational' as well as Treasury define 'hack'.

Yes, it's a great first step to broaden how we value well being over never ending growth, yes the desperately creaking social infrastructure will get propped back into place, yes the very worst off will be marginally better off, but the vast majority of New Zealanders in need will still be needing.

If there is any winner in this budget, it's Māori.
$116 million for Whānau Ora
$98 million for Māori and whānau in Prisons 
$61 million in Māori mental health
$40 million in papakainga development
$49 million for Mana in Mahi 
$100 million investment in whenua Māori
$32million boost for Kōhanga Reo 
Māori put their trust into Labour at the last election by handing them all the Māori electorates plus an enormous boost in the Party list vote from Māori on the General roll, this budget rewards that faith. 

The Māori Caucus should be applauded, because there is little else to cheer.

Martyn Bradbury
Editor - TheDailyBlog.nz
twitter.com/CitizenBomber