3. TARIANA TURIA (Co-Leader—Māori Party) Link to this
to the Minister for Social Development and Employment
Of the $60 million committed by the Government to family violence prevention over the next 4 years, what specific targeted investment has been made in Māori-specific initiatives and interventions, and what are the names of the programmes and services that have received support?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY (Acting Minister for Social Development and Employment) Link to this
The member’s figures need to be corrected slightly. In the 2006 Budget, I think she is referring to the $68.8 million over 4 years to programmes that help reduce violence in our families and communities. We should also not overlook the fact that the Ministry of Social Development already funds around $125 million per year into community-based organisations that deliver these kinds of services. All of this spending has an impact to some degree on Māori, but specific programmes that we might mention are Amokura, the Te Rito programme, which funds coordinators and whānau, and the violence programmes. It is worth pointing out that almost half of the 50 highest-paid funders of Ministry of Social Development funds are iwi-based or Māori providers.
Has the Minister seen the release from Te Korowai Aroha o Aotrearoa that states: “Despite the efforts of Māori organisations and their initiatives to stem the tide of whānau violence, Government support remains minimal.”, and would he not agree that $2 million out of these funds—given that Te Rito is not a Māori programme—allocated to Māori-specific initiatives is pitiful, and is woefully inadequate to stem the tide of whānau violence; if not, why not?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
I share the member’s concern about whānau-based violence, and I know that one of the things that has happened—particularly in the last couple of weeks—is that a number of people have taken leadership to try to show how this issue can be resolved. I do want to point out to the member that the Waipareira Trust, for example, received $2 million a year alone, and I want to go back to the fact that almost half of the 50 highest-funded providers for the Ministry of Social Development and Employment are iwi or Māori-based providers. A large amount of money is running through a very wide range of programmes that will impact on this issue amongst Māori.
Dave HereoraHon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
Of course, one of the core goals of the Government is to ensure that New Zealanders live in healthy, safe, and secure environments, and we have programmes running across all major agencies—health, social development, education, and so on. I point to the Family Violence Intervention programme, the Strong Pacific Families strategy, and the programme that is for young children who witness violence. Just recently my colleague Mr Hodgson released the Violence Intervention programme, which was well covered in the media and means that all front-line staff in hospitals will be trying to deal with the issue of family violence. Next month, I will be releasing the It’s Not OK programme, which will be a large programme focusing on all communities in this country standing up and saying no to violence, and then referring people who need assistance to the proper agencies.
Does the Minister believe that $500,000 given to a national Māori organisation to be shared amongst 200 agencies is sufficient to address this significant issue, and when does the Minister intend to take responsibility to invest in the most critical issue facing this nation and allow Māori providers to implement their own solutions, given the limited success of others?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
I repeat that there is a large amount of money, far more than $500,000, running through a variety of programmes that are by Māori, for Māori, and are programmes that will impact on whānau. One of the things I would say to the member is that we have a cross-Parliament group currently working; that would seem, to me, to be an ideal place for the member to make concrete suggestions about how we might approach this issue in the future, and I would welcome hearing from her on those matters.
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. In my first question, I gave the Minister the opportunity to share with the House the names of those Māori providers that provide those services, and he chose not to answer it.
Madam SPEAKERI will ask the Minister whether he wishes to address it. I recall that some names were, in fact, given, but would the Minister like to repeat them?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
Yes, just for the interest of the House, I have mentioned such programmes as the Waipareira Trust, but also I mentioned Hauraki, Ngāpuhi, Te Rawara, and Ngāti Raukawa; I mentioned groups such as Ngāti Maniapoto. As I said before—and I am happy to send the member the list of the 50 largest funding groups in the Ministry of Social Development—most of them are Māori or iwi-based, and she is welcome to have that list.
There are no more supplementary questions indicated on the list today; three were allocated, and they have been taken.
With the upcoming launch of a national campaign against family violence, what resources have been set aside for Māori communities and Māori providers to be involved in this campaign, particularly given the greatly increased demand on their services?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
The member will know that the campaign that says violence is not OK has $14 million attached to it. That will pay for the promotional material, and there will be some money available for people to apply for, to provide services. Māori providers will be welcome to apply for that money so they can step up their services in response to need.