7. TODD McCLAY (National—Rotorua) Link to this
to the Minister for Social Development and Employment
Has the Government announced any new funding to ensure the welfare of our most vulnerable children and families?
Hon PAULA BENNETT (Minister for Social Development and Employment) Link to this
Yes, I am pleased to announce that this Government has secured the future of children’s health camps. [ Interruption] This Government will be investing an extra $1.5 million into health camps each year. I heard Opposition members just then call out: “About time.” This is an issue that the Labour Government ignored for 9 long years, driving those health camps to the brink of closure, but within 9 months the National Government has sorted it out.
Hon PAULA BENNETT Link to this
I certainly can. In Rotorua the Princess of Wales Children’s Health Camp takes kids from all over the central North Island, from the Coromandel to Taranaki. That camp will undergo a badly needed $2 million upgrade, securing a safe, healthy environment for the children, and at the same time saving about 40 jobs. When I became Minister, this was one of the first camps that I visited. It is down to that member’s determination and doggedness, quite frankly, in making sure we got there, saw them, and fixed the problem.
Dr Rajen PrasadWhat evidence does the Minister have to suggest that social service agencies are cynically making applications and second-guessing Government priorities and adapting to suit, securing funding in the process, as she mentioned in her speech yesterday, and how does this reflect her understanding of the work that the many voluntary social service agencies do with our most vulnerable children?
Hon PAULA BENNETT Link to this
Those social service agencies do amazing work with our most vulnerable children, with little resourcing—there is no doubt about that. We have seen evidence for the last 10 years that they have tried to second-guess the Labour Government because they knew they were being used as a ping-pong ball. They had to try and guess where the funding was going so they could follow it. We are being up front about what they do well. We will back them, and we are being open about it.
Mr SPEAKERLeave is sought to table a speech made yesterday by a Minister. Is there any objection to that course of action? There is no objection.
Hon Nathan GuyCan the Minister explain if there have been any particular issues around the Ōtaki Children’s Health Camp?
Hon PAULA BENNETT Link to this
Ōtaki has a large camp with some historically significant buildings in need of repairs that the previous Government would not pay for. A former staff member at the camp wrote me a letter of thanks because she is so pleased that the camp will remain open. I would like to thank the Hon Nathan Guy for all the hard work I know he and his local community have done to secure the future of that health camp. I know they had an uphill battle for many years, but we are pleased to be able to step in and help that happen. It is a great news story.