Nanaia

Mahuta

Maori Development Spokesperson

7 September 2015 MEDIA STATEMENT

Whanau Ora evaluation too late

Today’s Whanau Ora report will not drive real change for families because budget decisions have already been made, says Labour’s Maori Development Spokesperson Nanaia Mahuta.

“What is needed will require real change in other Government agencies like Social Development, Health and Education. Whanau Ora can’t do it alone and these decisions should have been made before Budget 2015.

"There is no evidence that MSD will change its funding formula to provide for collective whanau based outcomes, even against the backdrop of pending changes for CYF.

"The Government has no real intention to support Whanau Ora and it appears they’re confused about the outcomes.

"The Government dropped one of the successful elements of phase one which allowed whanau to develop their own implementation plans.

"This was supposed to be the Maori Party’s key policy and now it’s been gutted and it’s failing. It looks like the Maori Party has been caught on the back foot. Releasing the report after funding decisions have been made makes no sense when they could’ve used evidence to inform better policy.

"Labour would promote a whole of Government approach to provide more effective implementation of policies that improve wellbeing outcomes for Maori and all New Zealanders," says Nanaia Mahuta.

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