The Whānau Ora Minister has announced a $3 million funding boost to go directly to whānau ora commissioning agencies.
Whānau Ora Minister Peeni Henare. Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller
It comes as this week Māori leaders seek an urgent Waitangi Tribunal hearing over the government's handling of Whānau Ora funding.
Their claim says funding is being withdrawn from the initiative, with the money being picked up by government agencies instead.
Peeni Henare denied this, and said $20m was earmarked in the Budget to explore new localised Whānau Ora commissioning.
Henare said $3m of that would now be redirected back into the commissioning agencies this year.