May 01, 2014
Budget boost for violence services
Campaigners against sexual violence hope a funding boost for the sector will mean more money for kaupapa Maori services.
Social Development Minister Paula Bennett has announced this month’s budget will contain $10.4 million in new operating funding to support sexual violence services over the next two years.
She says it will provide immediate stability for specialist services and provide support for frontline crisis-response services, community-based treatment services and services for male survivors, as well as support for people accessing medical and forensic services.
Russell Smith, the paetakawaenga for Te Ohaakii a Hine National Network Ending Sexual Violence Together, says frontline kaupapa Maori survivor and harmful sexual behaviour services have struggled to get funding.
He says many services only continued because of the goodwill of staff and volunteers.
He says the demand on services is growing.
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