Press Release

MANA Leader Hone Harawira

Tuesday 24th July

Government’s Family Policy

“Government policy when it comes to whānau is to under-fund and undermine Whanau Ora, attack families on a range of issues, and make the Families Commission an advisory body to the Minister rather than an independent body that can advocate for whānau free from government interference” says MANA leader, Hone Harawira.

MANA will be voting to oppose the government’s Families Commission Amendment Bill that is up for first reading this evening.

“We’ve got two major problems with this Bill. The first is that it shifts the Commission to become more of an advisory body for the Minister, rather than an autonomous Crown entity – compromising and overtaking its obligation to speak out. This is especially important when the government in question is leading a determined attack against the country’s most vulnerable whānau”.

“The other major concern we have is that there is no guaranteed Maori voice on the Commission and none on the newly formed Social Sciences Expert Panel. Given the government’s Treaty obligations and the need for Maori input regarding whānau, I would have thought it was a no-brainer to have permanent positions allocated for Maori. Then again if this government’s contempt for Maori and Treaty rights is anything to go by, I shouldn’t be so surprised”.

ENDS

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