New plan for at-risk families

Plans to devolve millions of dollars in social services spending to community groups are set to be unveiled next week.

A report due on Thursday from the Government's Whanau Ora task force will outline a new approach to welfare and health service delivery for New Zealand's most at-risk families.

The Government plans to earmark millions of dollars from health and welfare budgets for a new style of community delivery, bypassing state agencies.

A ministerial group, led by Health Minister Tony Ryall, has been discussing implementation of the policy, which is likely to receive ring-fenced funding in the May Budget.

In a major shift in policy, Whanau Ora will be open to all Kiwis, not just Maori as the Maori Party had envisaged.

The Whanau Ora task force was originally asked to "find a better way for the Government to deal with Maori whanau".

Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia said that was because the proposal was originally designed under Labour, but the National-led Government always planned to widen the scheme to all New Zealanders.

"While the concept of Whanau Ora might be pertinent for Maori, there's no doubt in my mind that the whole concept of being self-managing is pertinent to any community," he said.

Labour MP Shane Jones said the policy was "privatisation of welfare wrapped in a Maori cloak" and would lead to more job losses and funding cuts in the public sector to pay for the scheme.

It is understood next week's report will provide the Government with options for change, ranging from allowing non-government organisations to tender for individual social service contracts to the private management of a family's contact with state agencies.

Ryall said change was needed because it was clear the current system of delivery was not working.

  Major overhaul A19

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