Minister for Finance Grant Robertson has highlighted key areas of Wellbeing Budget 2022 this afternoon as he delivers the governments fourth budget in Parliament.
KEY POINTS:
- An emergency $1 billion cost of living package, giving a one-off payment of $350 to 2.1 million people.
- The package also extends the 25c a litre fuel tax cut and half-price public transport for another two months.
- An $8 billion increase in health spending, including $71m for Pharmac to buy more cancer drugs and more money for ambulances and rebuilding run-down hospitals.
- Schools get $777m in capital investment for new classrooms and the decile system will be scrapped.
Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio says the budget further strengthens the economic foundations and wellbeing outcomes for Pacific peoples in Aotearoa, as the recovery from COVID-19 continues.
“The priorities we set for Budget 2022 will support the continued delivery of our commitments for Pacific peoples through the Pacific Wellbeing Strategy, a 2020 manifesto commitment for Pacific Aotearoa.
This strategy is aimed at lifting Pacific wellbeing and aspirations in health, housing, education, business, employment, incomes, leadership, Pacific arts, sports, music and STEAM career pathways,” says Minister Aupito.
The Pacific package includes:
- A package to build up to 300 homes over the next 10 years for Pacific families in Eastern Porirua, with initial funding of $49 million in the forecast period.
- $13.7 million to implement the Government’s commitment to deliver a Dawn Raids historical account.
- $49.9 million for the Pacific Provider Development Fund, to support Pacific providers to adapt their models of care into the new health system.
- $20 million to implement a diabetes prevention and treatment programme for targeted Pacific communities in South Auckland.
- $8 million boost to continue the delivery of Tupu Aotearoa, which enables the delivery of personalised Pacific employment and training services.
- $15.5 million investment into Pacific economic development, which aims to meet community demand for services to support “shovel-ready” Pacific businesses and social enterprises across New Zealand.
- $1.6 million to maintain the Pacific Work Connect Programme, which supports the continuation of a Pacific migrant support service.
- $18.3 million boost to the Toloa Science, Technology, Education, Arts and Mathematics programme. This initiative provides opportunities across Pacific peoples journeys through education and employment.
- $2 million to maintain and grow the Tulī Takes Flight and Pacific Education Foundation Scholarships, to Pacific education scholarships to address education system inequities.
- $13 million to support the growth of the Pacific bilingual and immersion schooling workforce and the retention of the current workforce.
- Up to $5m of reprioritised funding over four years to fund further Professional Learning and Development (PLD) focussed on Tapasā: cultural competencies for teachers of Pacific learners.
Minister Aupito says, “the Pacific package further highlights this Government’s commitment to supporting Pacific peoples’ vision and wellbeing approach by using the Lalanga Fou goals to continue growing thriving, confident and resilient Pacific peoples in Aotearoa New Zealand.”
