May 21, 2015
Maori budget highlights
Other highlights for Maori in the 2015 budget include $12.8 million over four years to help Maori land owners improve the productivity of their land.
The Te Ture Whenua Maori Network complements the reform of Maori land law.
There's $2.1 million of new operating funding for rangatahi Maori suicide prevention.
Maori Development Minister Hon Te Ururoa Flavell says it will help identify and support community-led initiatives aimed at building whanau resilience and target communities with identified need.
The most recent figures for 2011 show the Maori rate was 1.8 times higher than the non-Maori rate, with 108 Maori suicide deaths.
Among Maori youths, it's 2.4 times higher than the suicide rate among non-Maori youths.
There's another $35.3 million over 4 years for Maori housing.
Of this, $5.7 million a year is set aside for the Maori Housing Network which will fund regional housing development facilitators who will provide practical assistance and expertise at a local level.
The network will also provide practical assistance for Maori housing projects, manage Crown funding for Maori housing, and lead the Government’s strategic approach to Maori housing.
An additional $1.5 million a year will boost the Special Housing Action Zone programme administered by Te Puni Kokiri.
This investment is in addition to the $28 million over four years currently committed to improve housing through the Kainga Whenua infrastructure grant and the rural and Maori housing initiative.
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