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Maori Party co-leader Marama Fox wants to see an extension of the microfinance initiative pushed for by her predecessor Tariana Turia.
Under a pilot scheme provided for in the 2013 Budget, people in west and south Auckland were able to get small loans for low or no interest.
Ms Fox says as part of the stock-take of government spending allowed for in the Maori Party’s support agreement, she’s asking for it to be ramped up.
"So it’s the Salvation Army and Good Shepherd tasked to roll out the loans. They've been accessed by under 200 people, it was a small pilot so now that we see it is actually hugely successful we need to ramp it up, so here's my challenge to the minister, how are you going to do that? what does that look like? where is it going to ramp up to? are we going to see this across the country for all people experiencing hardship to access?,' she says.
Marama Fox says programmes like microfinance are why it’s important the Maori Party remains part of government.
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