Features

Budget 2008: Māori

Since 1999, Māori have made phenomenal progress in all areas of education, employment and enterprise. Budget 2008 builds on these achievements, and provides funding to support Māori economic development, and strengthen the Māori Warden service.

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During the 1990s the gap between Māori and Pakeha widened on almost every front. Over the last eight and a half years these inequalities have been reduced and outcomes improved thanks to reinvestment in core public services and in our families and communities.

The collective Māori asset base is now worth an estimated $16.5 billion – an 83 per cent increase since 2001. Māori are now major players in the future of our country’s fisheries, forestry, tourism and agriculture sectors.

Budget 2008 builds on these successes:

A total of $17.2 million to strengthen the capacity and capability of the widely respected Māori Warden service. Māori Wardens already make a positive impact in many regions and in south Auckland. This increase in funding will now support the Māori Warden service across all regions.
Budget 2008 provides $40.5 million for the formation of Māori Business Aotearoa New Zealand (MBANZ). MBANZ will establish services for Māori including providing business support, Māori economic development, and some facility for loans to Māori businesses.
Budget 2008 also provides for new cultural facilities in Wellington and Whakatane to enable domestic and international to experience a part of our Māori culture.

Other funding will allow for the continued acceleration in the Treaty negotiations process, and further support for Māori in the health and disability workforce.

OTHER REGIONS +NORTHERN