Katherine Rich MP National Party Social Services Spokeswoman

09 November 2004

How many reports and reviews are too many?

"The Government has finally launched an inquiry into matters connected to the now infamous 'hip-hop grant' - months after allegations first surfaced," says National Party Welfare spokeswoman Katherine Rich.

"Steve Maharey's reluctance is quite surprising really, given that he has called for at least 46 other inquiries into specific grants handed out under his stewardship of the Social Development portfolio."

The Minister has confirmed in a letter that the Department of Labour 'will urgently conduct a formal investigation' into the use of grants at the Christchurch Community Outsource Trust, which has received $143,000 of public money in the past six years.

Mrs Rich sparked the inquiry after passing information to the Minister that she received while looking into the circumstances of Fuarosa Tamati. She was half of the mother and daughter duo who were given taxpayer money to 'do a whole lot of travelling for hip-hop'.

"A series of allegations came to light during my investigation, and it is appropriate that the Minister and his department take a much closer look to make sure taxpayer money is going where it is supposed to.

"I do have real concerns, though, that on his watch Mr Maharey has now launched 47 separate inquiries - many of which have uncovered fundamental failures in the most basic reporting and monitoring functions.

"Make no mistake, this won't be the last inquiry that Mr Maharey launches into the poorly targeted programmes which he and his department are responsible for," says Mrs Rich.

ENDS

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