‘They’ll get what they wish for’: Health Minister happy to accept Labour’s call

Minister for Health and Pacific Peoples, Dr Shane Reti, has warned Labour following demands from the party for all Health New Zealand-Te Whatu Ora’s monthly financial reports to be released.

Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verall said the Government had claimed that Te Whatu Ora faced a deficit in March despite official financial statements saying otherwise.

Reti told William Terite on Pacific Mornings that he is more than happy to share the information.

“They should be very careful that they will get what they wish for because what they will see is their incompetence will be blatantly displayed to all of New Zealand. So they'll get what they wish for.”

Reti also reaffirmed the continuation of the Ministry for Pacific Peoples’ housing initiatives.

“How they'll continue is in collaboration with lead ministries like the Ministry for Housing and Urban Development, who may well be the lead.

“In a joint venture or in a collaborative role, the Ministry for Pacific Peoples (MPP) will be able to focus specifically on what housing means for Pacific people. The portfolio is still strong in housing.”

Although unable to confirm whether the MPP still has a housing unit, Reti said the department’s $16 million financial capability programme which cost an average almost $5000 per family was “value for money”.

Despite his support for getting more Pacific people to own their own homes, he wass not concerned about the language tests, some five-year-olds may have to sit, and that have come from Pacific programmes.

“We're very strong on supporting Pacific languages, particularly through our Pacific Languages Weeks.

“We see the ministry as the repository and the guardian of Pacific languages, we take that responsibility very seriously.

“We're always providing advice into policy initiatives that we're asked to advise on, but I don't have particular concerns.”