16-05-2025
$190m social fund to enhance services for Tairāwhiti community
The Government expected the Social Investment Fund to transform the way the social services were delivered to vulnerable New Zealanders.
It formed the centrepiece of a $275m commitment over four years to the Government's social investment programme.
Finance Minister Nicola Willis, in announcing the Social Investment Fund earlier this week, said the funding would target deeply entrenched issues by investing in services that deliver 'measurable improvements' in people's lives.
The first three initiatives to receive support from the fund were an Emerge Aotearoa youth offending programme, an Autism NZ early intervention scheme and a Te Tihi o Ruahine programme supporting families in need.
Kirkpatrick said there were many significant issues in Tairāwhiti, spanning government agencies including justice, education, housing, health, police and the Ministry of Social Development.
'If they were all focused on the same outcomes, this streamlined approach to better contracting and measurement of their success, we would see results.
'I am delighted with the work that entities like Manaaki Tairāwhiti and the iwi leaders as well as other NGOs have already put into understanding what this might look like in our community, and I know they are ready to get stuck in this coming year.'
