July 17, 2013
Green fears change will entrench privilege
Greens leader Metiria Turei says a new structure for Whānau Ora will give more power to regional gatekeepers without ensuring proper checks are in place.
Under the new governance model, responsibility for deciding who is funded shifts from Te Puni Kokiri to three non-governmental organisations covering the North and South Islands and the Pacific community.
Ms Turei says while she approves of Whānau Ora’s kaupapa of providing integrated services to families through partnerships with community providers, there still isn’t the transparency in place to give people confidence they are being well served.
"I still hear stories from all across the country of hapū and whānau not getting access to Whānau Ora funding because of gatekeepers in the Whānau Ora model and if that's the case, restructuring it this way so it's even more possible for there to be gatekeepers of the money, or where there are some whānau being privileged over others and hapū being privileged over others, then you have got a real problem," she says.
Copyright © 2013, UMA Broadcasting Ltd