Search

Minister for Children Anne Tolley says a total of $49 million is being invested in Budget 2017 to boost Family Start, an intensive home visiting programme.

Mrs Tolley today visited Ngati Awa Social and Health Services, Tuwharetoa ki Kawerau and Te Pou Oranga o Whakatohea in Whakatane. This additional funding will help all three providers extend their Family Start programme into rural areas in the Bay of Plenty.

Local Government Minister Anne Tolley and Civil Defence Minister Nathan Guy today announced Budget 2017 provides $6 million to part fund emergency water supplies in the Wellington region.

“The Government is committed to improving New Zealand’s resilience to natural hazards,” says Mrs Tolley.

“We’ve worked closely with the Mayors of Wellington, Porirua, Upper and Lower Hutt, as well as the Greater Wellington Regional Council, to develop a plan to improve the region’s water resilience.

Budget 2017 invests significantly to support vulnerable children and young people in care through the new Ministry for Vulnerable Children Oranga Tamariki, Minister for Children Anne Tolley says.

Budget 2017 funding is made up of $424.4 million operating over the next four years, $2.3 million in 2016/17, and $7.5 million capital.

$26.4 million will be invested to support around 4,500 caregivers of children in care, as well as help for those caring for higher needs children.

Budget 2017 invests $64.4 million of new operating funding to help people move off benefits and into work, Social Development Minister Anne Tolley says.

“A proactive approach to supporting clients to prepare for employment has seen the number of people receiving a main benefit continue to fall,” Mrs Tolley says.

“The proportion of the population on a main benefit is the lowest it’s been in a March quarter since 1997, at 9.6 per cent.

Budget 2017 invests $37.2 million of operating funding to reduce the harm caused by family violence, Justice Minister Amy Adams and Social Development Minister Anne Tolley say.

$22.4 million will extend the Integrated Safety Response (ISR) pilots for another two years.

Budget 2017 invests an extra $68.8 million over four years to support vulnerable children and their families, say Minister for Children Anne Tolley and Education Minister Nikki Kaye.

This is part of the Government’s $321 million Social Investment Package announced by Prime Minister Bill English today.

The package includes: