MEDIA STATEMENT
The Hon Dr Pita Sharples
Maori Party Co-Leader
May 6, 2010

Maori Party pleased with first wave of funding

Maori Party co-leader Dr Pita Sharples says the $134.3 million of funding announced today for whänau ora will help bring to fruition a promise the party made to its electorate.

“We promised our people we’d get traction on whänau ora and today’s release of the funding levels proves we have,” Dr Sharples said.

Not only was whanau ora a part of the party’s confidence and supply agreement with the Government, it was also in the Maori Party policy manifesto, he said.

“Whanau ora is also a huge part of the lives of our party’s MPs – we walk the talk, we breathe and live it and that’s how we know it works.

Whanau ora provides a conceptual revolutionary change to the way social services are delivered in Aotearoa, and making it a practical success for the nation now lies with whänau, the 20 providers yet to be confirmed and the Government.

“We have a dream for this nation and it is called whänau ora and today’s milestone is only the beginning.

“I’m really proud of the Government for being bold enough to try a new way and to realise that sometimes the answers to this country’s social problems do not always lie with it,” Dr Sharples said.

ENDS

© Scoop Media