3 Mar 2010

Whanau Ora scheme likely to be bulk funded

7:13 am on 3 March 2010

Prime Minister John Key says providers operating under the fledgling Whanau Ora scheme are likely to be bulk-funded.

The policy is still under development and full details are to be revealed in the Budget in May.

The focus of Whanau Ora will be to target families in need, providing them with more of a one-stop-shop approach to community services.

A criticism of the current system is that one agency dealing with one family has to access funding from several, separate sources.

Mr Key says effectively bulk funding those agencies by consolidating their existing contracts is one of the main aims of the policy.

He says it's envisaged families who want to participate will have to opt into the scheme.