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Download AudioMāori Development Minister Willie Jackson has found $5 million in his existing budget for immediate relief during the current COVID-19 outbreak.
He says the COVID-19 2021 Whānau Recovery Fund will give small grants to Māori organisations and iwi who were working directly with the community, especially groups which are not connected to existing support networks.
The funding diverted from other Te Puni Kōkiri programmes will focus on those areas hardest hit by the higher COVID-19 alert levels; Tāmaki Makaurau, Te Tai Tokerau and Northern Waikato.
“It’s important we give all the support we can and TPK stepping up to support what the Ministry for Social Development has been doing, what we are doing in the Whānau Ora area, and it adds to the tuara, the backstop our people need,” Mr Jackson says.
Some examples could include support to make sure vulnerable rangatahi are connected to their peers and support networks, and support for kai packaging and delivery to free up provider staff to focus on resourcing vaccination clinics.
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