May 24, 2024
Gumboot Friday value for money says Peters
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New Zealand First leader and Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters has defended a $24 million injection into former comedian Mike King’s Gumboot Friday mental health initiative.
Labour spokesperson Ingrid Leary has questioned the Budget allocation to the I Am Hope Foundation because of donations made by foundation chair Naomi Ballantyne to the National Party, even though the proposal was signed off in last year’s coalition agreement.
Mr Peters says he’s backing Mr King because of his success in funding counselling sessions for children and rangatahi, in contrast to the $1.9 billion allocated by the former Labour Government for mental health which he says delivered five hospital beds.
Winston Peters says all the money will go to funding counselling sessions for 5 to 25 year olds over the next four years, with I Am Hope raising other donations to pay for overheads.