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A Māori economist expects little for Māori in today’s no-frills Budget.
Matthew Roskruge says Te Puni Kokiri officials have looked glum in recent weeks, while Education Ministry staff were more upbeat.
The Government has flagged a lot of what’s in it over the past couple of weeks, and the reading is a chance to put its spin on it – which in the case of Maori will probably be about the benefits from Working for Families and more early childhood funding.
“Which is fine but it’s also a real deficit mindset around Maori – they’re talking about us as if it’s only at the lower end of the socioeconomic spectrum where we are looking to see support whereas there is a huge number of Maori entrepreneurs, Maori businesses, huge aspirations in education and working overseas in trade. It would be good to see some prioritisation there as well,”
Professor Roskuge says.
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