"This year's Budget is a step in the right direction towards the new social and employment programmes to be delivered by whanau, hapu, iwi and Maori and Pacific communities.

The Budget delivers $16.89 million in 2000/01 and in excess of $72 million over four years in new funding for programmes that will have a direct impact for Maori and Pacific people. These programmes are:

• Maori Economic and Organisational Development: $5.37 million in 2000/01 ($20.80 million over four years) to improve the capacity and capability of Maori organisations, assist with Maori land development and develop local partnerships that will create local employment opportunities.
• Maori Women's Development: $3.62 million in 2000/01 ($14.1 million over four years) to assist Maori women to enter into, remain in or expand their businesses. The fund will also promote the development of Maori women leaders in their community and provide enterprise and leadership training.
• Pacific People's Organisational Development: $1.89 million in 2000/01 ($7.12 million over four years) to provide assistance with administrative skills, leadership training, IT and infrastructure development for Pacific community organisations.
• Investing in Maori Communities: $1 million in 2000/01 ($3 million over three years) to assist whanau, hapu, iwi and Maori communities to identify their needs and support their development.
• Pacific People's Provider Development Fund: $500,000 in 2000/01 ($3.11 million over four years) to develop social services that are more responsive to the needs of Pacific families.
• Iwi/Maori Provider and Workforce Development (including Iwi Social Services): $3.51 million in 2000/01 ($14.05 million over four years) to further develop the capability of Iwi social service providers, so increasing the numbers of Maori children and young people cared for by their iwi, hapu or whanau.
• Maori Youth Contestable Fund: $1 million in 2000/01 ($10 million over four years) to fund initiatives developed by Maori communities which aim to reduce Maori youth offending.

In addition there is further reprioritised expenditure within the social services and employment portfolios that will make a real contribution towards the Government's efforts at Closing the Gaps.

This includes $16.12 million in 2000/01 ($58 million over four years) in the employment area, particularly for the introduction of a voluntary approach to the current community work scheme, the Work Track programme to target those at risk of long-term unemployment and the piloting of Community Employment Organisations.

"With about 40 % of Child Youth and Family Service clients who are Maori and 9% who are Pacific people, all the work it does to help at risk youth and children will indirectly assist Maori and Pacific people," the Ministers said.