Māori economist Matt Roskruge predicts a gloomy Budget day for Māori.
The Massey University professor says the mood in Wellington is flat.
Budget forecasts show a weaker economy than at the election, so Finance Minister Nicola Willis will have less money to play with.
There have been no pre-budget announcements about spending for Māori.
“But there’s certainly lots of things in there, I would say reduce the quality of life for Māori, lots of taking away choice or moving more money round to fit the private sector, more National-style priorities than we used to see under Labour,” Professor Roskruge says.
In Budget 2023 Labour’s Grant Robertson put wellbeing, Māori and climate front and centre but they may not even get a mention from Nicola Willis.
While middle-income earners may get some lower taxes, Professor Roskruge expects changes in how child poverty is measured and more talk of social investment, which may create some opportunities for Māori businesses offering by Māori, for Māori solutions.
Law and order including Corrections will also get serious pūtea, which might not be the place Māori want to see it.
