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John Key - Source: ONE News -
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A new way of delivering welfare to dysfunctional families won't just be targeted at Maori, the government says.
Reports have said the programme that is being developed, called Whanau Ora or Well Family, would be delivered by Maori agencies to Maori families.
But Prime Minister John Key says that wasn't so.
"It won't be just for Maori, there's no way the government will accept that," he said on NewstalkZB.
"It has to be for every family in need."
Whanau Ora is being championed by the Maori Party and co-leaders Tariana Turia and Pita Sharples have been discussing it with ministers.
Social Development Minister Paula Bennett has said the concept is about bringing together the different welfare agencies, as well as the justice and housing authorities, to help families that were in difficulty.
Bennett's office says it was about getting better value for money for the tens of millions the Government already spent each year providing services to needy and dysfunctional families across New Zealand.
It would be needs-based, not race-based, and much of the detail was still to be decided.
Key says it was about "joining up" services for families.
"It may even make sense for that joining up and that delivery to happen by a private sector type of organisation like a Waipareira Trust," he says.
