Big funding packages for housing, health, and education have been met with praise from Otakou marae kaumatua Edward Ellison.
"It is all encouraging, and will go a long way to addressing disparities in housing and health issues, which are related, among Maori communities," he said.
"If we can address those things it would make a big difference for the country."
The package places a strong emphasis on improving housing outcomes, setting aside $380million to deliver 1000 papakainga homes on Maori land and other measures, including repairs for 700 Maori-owned houses to improve the quality of homes for whanau in most need.
The funding for Maori health includes $98.1million for establishing the Maori Health Authority, $17.8million to support of iwi/Maori partnership boards and $126.8million for Hauora Maori programmes run by the Maori Health Authority, including funding for increasing provider capability and a Maori health innovation fund.
Mr Ellison said the Maori Health Authority was a positive and would make good ground on significant issues in Maori health.
He felt the Government had been conservative in some areas, but had made good investments in reducing inequality.
- Additional reporting The New Zealand Herald
