Health Minister Jonathan Coleman said the increase was possible because of a ``reprioritisation'' within the health budget.
It was not clear what that money is being used for at present.
Dr Coleman said he had asked health officials to review the cochlear funding model to see how it could be structured more efficiently.
The programme's funding would increase to $14.9 million for the 2017-18 year.
It meant 100 implants could be inserted next year, an increase of 60.
The union-backed health campaign Yes We Care was celebrating yesterday, but criticised the timing. Campaign co-ordinator Simon Oosterman said Levin surf life-saver Danielle Mackay (22) would get an implant after a four-year wait.
``Danielle is an amazing young woman who has never wavered in her belief that she has a right to hear.
``This great news is tainted by the political timing of the announcement.
``This is an announcement from a party that intentionally kept baseline cochlear implant funding static for three years and has underfunded our health system by $2.3billion.''
He said the boost should have been new funding, rather than taking it from another part of the health system.
Last week, the Otago Daily Times reported the New Zealand Society of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery had made a rare public call for a funding boost.
