-
Tariana Turia - Source: Q+A -
Related
The Minister for Whanau Ora, Tariana Turia, has denied claims by New Zealand First leader Winston Peters that the scheme funds family reunions.
Peters has accused the Government of wasting millions of dollars of taxpayers' money on handouts from Whanau Ora, a fund which the Prime Minister said last year was intended to help families in need.
Peters told Parliament yesterday that a successful Wellington businessman sought funding for a family reunion from the scheme, known as the Whanau Integration, Innovation and Engagement Fund.
The applicant, Johni Rutene, is quoted in an official booklet promoting Whanau Ora as saying he planned to reconnect with his 180-strong extended family through a series of hui.
Turia says Whanau Ora does not fund reunions.
"It's really important if families are the problem that they come together to look at the issues that are confronting them and to resolve them," Turia told Radio New Zealand.
She said taxpayers' money has been "going down the gurgler" for years because other agencies have been trying to "fix families up", and that simply doesn't work.
"We know the state has wasted simply millions of dollars in the social sector. And we're trying to get families to be responsible, step up to the mark and come together."
Peters said it would appear Whanau Ora money is being squandered on enterprising middle-class families when it is supposed to go to the needy.
However Turia said she could be considered a successful person, but within her wider family has family who are incredibly poor and not doing well.
"So it is right for families to come together and to support and assist one another."
Applicant 'struggling financially'
Rutene, the man who sought the grant from Whanau Ora, said he sold his three barber shops last year and is still struggling financially, Radio NZ reported.
Rutene said the $3000 Whanau Ora grant was to cover the cost of two hui, where his wider family, which is genuinely in need of help, could discuss a formal plan to improve their lives and their health.
Peters said more than 200 applications for the scheme had been accepted, squandering about $6m of taxpayers' money.
But Turia said his information is incorrect.
"While there are 211 applicants there were over 2000 families who were served," she said.
Turia said for Peters to use one particular family to try and discredit the whole of Whanau Ora is very unfair.
