6. CHESTER BORROWS (National—Whanganui) Link to this
to the Minister for Social Development and Employment
What money was committed under the Community Response Model in Budget 2010?
Hon PAULA BENNETT (Minister for Social Development and Employment) Link to this
New money of $90.5 million is going to communities via the Community Response Model. It is based on the same model as the Community Response Fund and is about letting communities decide for themselves what does and does not work.
Hon PAULA BENNETT Link to this
For too long the Government, based in Wellington, has imposed its solutions on communities. National believes in local solutions to local problems, hence the Community Response Model will also include making decisions about the current spend of the $110 million family and community services group funding.
Hon PAULA BENNETT Link to this
We said it and we meant it. What works in Tokoroa is quite different from what might work in Timaru or Wanganui, as the member knows. No longer will we dictate from above. We trust communities. The Community Response Model will have local people and local officials on it.
Hon Annette KingWhen she said the Community Response Fund was for high priority services, did she include the Barnardos family centre in Māngere, which this week was advised that six of its workers are to be made redundant and that this vital service to families in South Auckland is to be closed; and if this service is not a high priority, what are the requirements to meet her criteria?
Hon PAULA BENNETT Link to this
The member was not clear why the Barnardos family centre is being closed, or whether it is because of the Community Response Fund. I am not aware of why Barnardos in Māngere might be closing. The reality is that Barnardos has all sorts of different ideas and different ways that it runs its organisation, and we certainly trust it to do that.