Māori

Significant investment in the wellbeing of tangata whenua 

We know from our own recent Māori Business Report that Māori in business continue to focus on sustainable growth and financial security to enable wellbeing for whänau. Māori will forge ahead with their aspiration for happy and well whānau. 

Given the Budget's focus on the people it’s not surprising this year’s Budget has a focus on Māori wellbeing. There is a focus on economic growth and social investment across a number of initiatives with $1 billion budgeted to deliver on promises: 

• Health - $243m 
  • Establish Māori Health Authority 
  • Support iwi/Māori partnership boards 
  • Hauroa Māori programmes and increasing provider capability and health innovation 
• Housing - $380m 
  • New homes 
  • Repairs and improving quality. To be led by Te Puni Kokiri  
  • Specific targeting to support Māori and iwi providers 
• Media - $42m 
  • Build a sustainable Mäori media sector and invest in Māori content 
• Education - $150m 
  • Supporting Māori boarding schools 
  • Increasing Köhanga reo teachers’ pay 
• Tourism - $15m 
  • Expansion of business support services 
  • Position the Māori Tourism Industry for the future 
• Language - $15m 
  • An aim for 1 million New Zealanders to speak conversational Te Reo Māori by 2040 
• Tamariki - $24m 
  • A by Māori for Māori approach for tamariki and whānau 

Health is vital to wellbeing; the establishment of a Māori Health Authority is reassuring. Ensuring it is Māori led will be key to success. 

BDO Partner Kylee Potae notes - “The Budget is a positive step in the right direction. The challenge will be making sure the investment hits the ground where change and positive impact needs to happen. Transformation needs to happen for the betterment of all New Zealand. These steps are small and overdue, but welcomed all the same”. 

Ahakoa he iti he pounamu 
(although it is small it is a treasure)