May 18, 2023
$825 million for Māori in Wellbeing Budget 2023
The Māori Budget for 2023 is $825 million, with the largest allocations going to Whānau Ora, Whare, Whenua and Matauranga Māori.
Te Matatini has finally been recognised in this year’s budget, with $34 million over two years.
Although Budget 2023 is down from last year’s allocation of around $1.3 billion, there’s an additional $172.2 million from budget 2022 that is still to be used up in the next couple of years. This brings the combined residual monies from 2022 and the new allocation in 2023 to $996.7 million.
Here is how the Māori Budget 2023 has been allocated:
• Whare: Whai Kāinga Whai Oranga $200 million
• Whenua: Te Ringa Hāpai Whenua Fund $23 million (over 4yrs)
• Cyclone Recovery Efforts: $19.9 million (over 4yrs)
• Whānau Ora: $168.1 million (over 4yrs)
• Hauora: $132 million
• Māori Education: $225 million
• Māori Justice: Te Ao Marama $11.7 million (for 2023/2024yr)
• Te Matatini: $34 million (over 2yrs)
• Matariki: $18 million (over 4yrs)
• Māori Media: $51 million (over 2yrs)
• Māori Tourism: $8 million
Minister of Economic Development Hon Willie Jackson says this year’s Wellbeing Budget is both a targeted and universal budget. He says there are significant gains for Māori in general budgets as well.
The Government has announced the scrapping of the $5 prescription co-payments in Health.
While $20 million is helping improve immunisation programmes and screening coverage for Māori and Pasifika whānau.
The 20 hours free ECE has been expanded to include two year olds. There is also free public transport for under 13 year olds and half price for under 25 year olds.
In Tertiary funding, there’s an increase in subsidies with increases for te reo Māori and Mātauranga Māori.