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NZ Government,
The Government has welcomed the release of the Whānau Ora Taskforce Report, which sets out options for improving social, education and other support services for families across New Zealand.
"Whānau Ora is one of a number of Government initiatives to help families become more self-managing and take responsibility for their own development," Acting Prime Minister Bill English and Minister Responsible for Whānau Ora Tariana Turia say.
The Government will formally respond to the Taskforce Report in the next month or so. But Mr English and Mrs Turia made it clear today that while Whānau Ora has the potential to benefit Māori, it will be available to all families in need.
They also confirmed a governance group - including three members of the Whānau Ora Taskforce and three government agency chief executives - has been appointed to manage the programme. It will report to Mrs Turia as Minister Responsible for Whānau Ora. The group is:
Mr English says it is clear from results in recent years that traditional approaches to helping families in need have not worked that well - and taxpayers are not getting the best value for money.
"We believe there is a better, more effective way of using the many hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars already spent in this area. Whānau Ora will also deliver better results for the families themselves. It recognises the importance of the family and the things that make families special.
"It's also based on the idea that, with a little help, people are capable of sorting out their own lives - so surely it's within our grasp as a Government to recognise that and to organise our own services around whānau and family."
Ministers have agreed that Whānau Ora will be financially neutral - funded by reprioritising existing funding in votes Health, Social Development and Māori Affairs. Those details will be set out in the Budget.
"Rather than having different agencies working with individual family members, Whānau Ora will work with whānau and families as a whole," Mrs Turia says.
"It will empower them to take control by meeting their obligations and taking responsibility.
"By building on the strengths of the entire whānau, it will require agencies to work together in better and smarter ways to support whānau and families.
"I am confident that Whānau Ora has the potential to help all families, right across New Zealand," Mrs Turia says.