May 15, 2014
Budget Political Reaction
Yesterday the Government delivered its pre-election budget.
Reporter Peter Verschaffelt has been looking at implications for Maori;
Reaction to the budget from Maori politicians has been largely predictable with the Maori Party quick to claim success for measures including $15 million new funding for Whanau Ora, $12 million extra for iwi radio, $10 million for Maori sporting and cultural activities, $8 million for a Maori innovation fund and more for Maori tourism over the next for four years.
Like National's own Maori MP's they have also drawn attention to general measures which will benefit Maori in particular the increase in the age of eligibility for free doctors visits and prescriptions from age five to 13 at a cost of $90million, $20million towards fighting rheumatic fever, the expansion of healthy homes initiatives in areas of high Maori population, and increased help for parents of new babies.
Mana's Hone Harawira has described the budget as a "more or less budget" saying it will do nothing to increase employment, the biggest issue facing Maori, while there is no excuse for rheumatic fever in New Zealand claiming the need for extra money on medicine to fight it is an insult.
Labour's David Parker says there is nothing in the budget to fight rising inequality and child poverty with power prices and rents which affect many Maori who are amoung the most vulnerable in the country sure to continue going upwards.
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