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Māori ministers are celebrating the Māori Budget again topping $1 billion.
Māori Development Minister Willie Jackson says it will go towards economic and employment opportunities, a healthcare system that is responsive to whānau needs, access to education that empowers them, and a thriving natural environment.
As well as the $66 million announced last week to continue the Māori Trades and Training Fund, there’s $13 million for initiatives in the construction sector which include improving Māori workplace diversity, $3 million for marae connectivity, $5 million for iwi/Māori teacher workforce support package, $25 million from Māori cadetships and $10 million for Te Ringa Hāpai Whenua Fund.
Progressive Procurement, encouraging government agencies to buy goods and services from Māori firms, gets a further $26 million over the next two years.
There’s $579.9 million for initiatives to support Māori health and wellbeing, including $188.1 million over four years to the Māori Health Authority for direct commissioning of services and more support for Iwi-Māori Partnership Boards.
Māori providers will get $30 million for capital infrastructure.
Whānau Ora commissioning agencies will have $166 million to support whānau, including whānau who will be provided more intensive support through Ngā Tini Whetū, a joint agency support programme with ACC and Oranga Tamariki.
There’s $39 million to train the extra Māori health workforce needed for the new health system.
In the environment and climate change area, there’s $162 million for whenua Māori entities to transition to lower emissions land uses, reduce biological emissions and develop a Māori Climate Action Plan.
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