18 May 2018

Budget 2018: Boost for health, but what about Māori?

From Morning Report, 6:13 am on 18 May 2018

Health was the focus in Grant Robertson's first budget. While the $2.3 billion more for District Health Boards is business as usual there's a huge boost in the amount of money to fix rundown and leaky hospitals. Mr Robertson says the $750 million is the biggest commitment in a decade and far more than National intended to spend. As well more than half a million people will get cheaper doctors visits - and 13-year-olds can go for free. Among the budget losers is the Māori Party's flagship policy - Whanau Ora. Instead of the $20 million in additional funding promised by Labour ahead of the election it got kore - nothing. The party's president Che Wilson says it's a kick in the guts for Maori ..... the Whanau Ora commissioning agency Te Pou Matakana says it feels "snubbed". The Minister for Whanau Ora, Peeni Henare, told our reporter Te Aniwa Hurihanganui people will just have to wait.