2 Jul 2012

Trust looks to court hearing over welfare contract

6:44 am on 2 July 2012

Waipareira Trust in west Auckland is looking forward to a full court hearing into whether or not it should be stripped of a Government welfare contract.

The Ministry of Social Development is attempting to end the Family Start agreement with the trust - arguing its service to at-risk families is not good enough.

But Waipareira Trust, led by John Tamihere, disagrees and has put up a legal fight.

On Friday, the High Court in Auckland ruled the trust can temporarily continue to deliver the social service initiative.

Trust lawyer Peter Thorpe says a judge will hear the full argument in August.

He says he's pleased the matter will be dealt with sooner rather than later, saying there's concern for the 240 families that the Waipareira Trust serves.