Budget 2007 – Outcome for the Family Violence Sector

The 2007 Budget contained some funding for family violence programmes. Project Mauri Ora, the kaupapa Maori whanau violence training and professional development programme, received funding of $2 million over the next year. The funding will provide support, resources, and services for 60 family violence prevention practitioners, including trainers. The Maori Advisory Group to the Taskforce on Action on Violence Within Families also received funding. Ministry of Health received extra funding of $11.2 million for programmes which includes funding to continue its family violence prevention initiative. Under the programme, health professionals have received family violence training, and processes for screening for partner and child abuse have been established. A further $20.4 million over two years was promised in the Budget for the ‘Pathways to Partnership’ strategy that will develop ways for community organisations to work with the government to provide a range of family services. The exact details of this strategy are yet to be announced. Some family violence community agencies were dissatisfied with the lack of specific funding for family violence service capacity. Age Concern said they were disappointed that the Budget contained nothing new to help combat elder abuse and neglect. Age Concern Elder Abuse and Neglect Prevention spokesperson, Jayne McKendry said that “Most elder abuse happens in older people’s own homes, and is committed by members of their own families. Yet parts of New Zealand still don’t have any services to help abused older people.”