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Maori Development and Whanau Ora minister Te Ururoa Flavell is defending shifting money earmarked for Maori housing into Te Puni Kokiri.
The money secured by former minister Tariana Turia was supposed to be distributed through North Island whanau ora commisiong agency Te Pou Matakana but was being held by the Housing Ministry.
Mr Flavell says when Building and Housing Minister Nick Smith offered it back, he grabbed it to prevent it being lost.
He is waiting for policy advice on how to get it out to initiatives that support Maori home ownership.
" TPK in the past have done a good job in managing that. And they will be charged with rolling that money out. And as I said that is absolutely my committment to ensure that the money that we have secured does get out to our people to move on in the housing initiatives because that is absolutely crucial towards moving us to a better place, socially and otherwise " he says.
Te Ururoa Flavell says the putea is is a lot less than the $20 million being put about by critics, and he is trying to increase it.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH TE URUROA FLAVELL CLICK ON THE LINK
https://secure.zeald.com/uma/play_podcast?podlink=MjcyMjc=
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