The magnitude of gain Budget 2022 represents for Māori and all New Zealand can’t be overestimated.
For all New Zealanders concerned with inequality, poverty and race relations, this budget represents an ongoing commitment from Labour to walk the talk.
For Māori to get $1.2billion in a post-covid economic slump is a testament to the negotiating muscle of the Māori Labour Caucus.
Just look at what has been gained in this Budget:
• $579.9 million in health initiatives
• $155 million invested into the Māori economy and employment
• Māori education gets over $200 million
• $28 million culture and Identity
• $162 million into the Environment and climate change for Māori adaptation
• $40million into Māori media
While critics will claim it’s not enough and more needs to be done, it would be wrong to look at the wins of this budget in isolation.
In 2021 Māori gained $1.1Billion and in 2020 they gained $900milion.
That’s $3Billion over 3 years for Māori, that is more than the entire settlement process from the Waitangi Tribunal and shows just how successful Willie Jackson and the Māori Labour Caucus has been.
In our rush to demand the perfect, we risk ignoring the good.
This Budget represents $3Billion extra into Māori funding that didn’t exist previously, the Labour Māori Caucus have much to feel proud of, the question will be whether or not Māori Voters realise or appreciate that enormous effort at a time when ACT are proposing vast amputations of Māori political voice if they are elected next year.
First published on Waatea News.
Every one’s a winner, Babe!
Except these, so called, gains are at the expense of someone or something else. Right?
How many govt depts are set up for maori?….how much does 85% of the taxpaying population actually fund overall for maori? (Yes..yes..yes, maori pay tax too..although iwis don’t!)
Hell, even maori TV gets about 60-80million tax payers money.
Am I against maori getting funds no…but let’s look at how much of the NZ tax take actually is specifically targeted at maori…when ALL maori can already access ALL govt agencies that currently exist for NZ population to access.
Has anyone actually looked into the obscene amount of money thrown to help maori but they always stuck at the bottom of all the stats for health/crime/welfare etc etc which means extra money does no good, it’s fucking wasted and kept at the iwi top level!
What was it $120mil extra given to get maori vaccination levels up…WHY?
Are we all saying they need hand held like children, an extra 120mil for something that every person on the planet knew about…’COVID-get vaccinated will save your life’, but somehow will only happen for maori if NZ tax payers stump up an extra 100mil.
Sheesh…
look mummy I’ve finished my colouring in book….
Good news Gagarin, hope you get a nice treat, mum can bring it down to your basement room as she picks up your clothes for washing….lucky boy!