Mana On Whanau Ora

"While Tariana is to be applauded for trying to make Whanau ora work" said MANA Leader and Tai Tokerau MP Hone Harawira, "Sue Bradford was right to say that money was being taken from existing Maori Providers to feed Whanau Ora."

Harawira said that Whanau Ora was originally proposed as a billion dollar Maori welfare restoration programme but that what it got was $134 million for ALL New Zealanders, about $20 million of which could be said to me Maori specific.

Harawira said it simply wasn't realistic to run Whanau Ora on 2% of the proposed budget. "Instructions have been given to pull back as much money as possible from social service providers."

"Tariana knows it's happening" said Harawira "In fact, one of her flagship providers, Amokura, was forced to shut it doors because so much of it's money was taken away for Whanau ora"

Harawira said that there was a lot of resentment from small providers who had been running whanau-based programmes, whose funding had been cut to feed Whanau Ora.

"Stealing from Pita to pay Paora" said Harawira "That's what's happening and the Maori Party should be ashamed of itself for playing the same game it used to accuse others of."

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