MANA MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
16November 2011
For: Annette Sykes MANA candidate for Waiariki

Maori Party Ignores Maori Women’s Welfare League

MANA Party candidate Annette Sykes says Whanau Ora now runs the risk of not achieving what it set out to do.

“It is well documented that the flagship policy of the Maori Party was going to cost $1billion dollars if it was ever going to achieve its goals.

“The Maori Party was short-changed by some $850 million dollars and now it seems that National will not expand the policy as was first intended, following comments made by the Minister of Social Development Paula Bennett and Prime Minister John Key.

“Here in Waiariki we have a high crime and unemployment rate and our people suffer from bad health. If ever we needed Whanau Ora to work for our people, now is the time.

“Yet we now learn that under a National-led Government Whanau Ora will not be expanded upon, denying services that are required to help our communities in need.

“What is worse is that the longest-serving Maori provider in the field of social development, the Maori Women’s Welfare League, has been overlooked to provide Whanau Ora services.

“Life Member and former head, Dame Iritana Tawhiwhirangi, said it was obvious that they should have been involved. Branch members in Waiariki are angry that the Maori Party has ignored one of Maoridom’s most successful institutions when it comes to health, housing and education.

“The truth is emerging about Whanau Ora and the fact that it will not achieve positive social change for our people.

“The Maori Party must be re-evaluating their relationship with National right now, especially as Key gave ACT a cup of tea and the Maori Party received a message that Whanau Ora will never reach the lofty heights they once imagined it would,” says Annette Sykes.

© Scoop Media