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The press
Workers preparing for school lunches. The Government has announced that it will greatly expand its school lunch scheme.
The state-funded school lunches will feed 200,000 children by the middle of next year, as the government agrees to spend approximately $ 1 billion on needy New Zealanders.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says the coronavirus crisis has greatly affected families, creating an urgent need for support, such as making sure children have a full stomach at school.
The Government, in its 2020 Budget announced Thursday, promised to spend $ 220 million on the free school lunch program, feed an additional 200,000 children, and create approximately 2,000 jobs. The school lunch program, launched in 2019, currently feeds 8,000 children.
“Providing a free and healthy lunch at school is one way to help make New Zealand the best place in the world to be a child and make a difference right away,” Ardern said in a statement.
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Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Green Leader James Shaw and Finance Minister Grant Robertson walk into the House on the day of the 2020 Budget presentation in Parliament.
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More broadly, the Government has promised to spend approximately $ 1b on social service providers, community groups, family violence services, rural mental health, and support services for the disabled.
The disabled community will get the most support from this social assistance spending, with a total of $ 833 million committed over the next five years, starting with $ 103 million in 2020.
Associate Health Minister Jenny Salesa said this would be the “biggest funding boost” for the disabled community.
“When we came to the Government, disability support funds were struggling to keep up with the legitimate expectations of the disabled community.
“This funding is about ensuring access to support for showering, cleaning and practical care; accommodation for people with high needs; equipment for mobility and access; respite for family caregivers-whānau; rehabilitation for people following a serious illness safe and court-ordered care. “
A round of smaller funding packages has been assigned to a range of services for Kiwis who need it.
Food banks, budget services and other social service providers will receive a boost of $ 79 million.
Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni said $ 32 million of the funds was allocated specifically to food banks, as there was an increased demand for food due to the Covid-19 crisis.
“This will include funding for a new bulk food distribution network -” New Zealand Food Network “and support for food banks and other suppliers.”
Community groups, especially those that help Maori, Pacific, refugee and migrant communities, will be able to contribute an additional $ 36 million in grants.
Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connnor said $ 15 million was going to the “Fruit in Schools” program, which would take food from supply chains disrupted by Covid-19 and provide 100,000 boxes of fruit and vegetables to children. for 10 weeks.
Lynn Grieveson / Press room
Finance Minister Grant Robertson has tried to keep expectations from soaring before his 2020 budget.
O’Connor also said the government would spend $ 20 million on financial support, mental health and wellness services for rural and fishing communities, which already faced a drought before the Covid-19 coup.
A $ 20 million hardship fund will also be established to help higher education students who are in financial difficulty in the coming months.
$ 202.9 million has already been announced for domestic violence services, and an additional $ 13 million has been allocated for children’s therapy and $ 8.6 million for 200 domestic violence organizations facing an expected increase in demand due to Covid-19.
The government has presented the budget as a $ 50b response to the coronavirus crisis, the fine print includes $ 16b of funding announcements for 2020, $ 14b spent in recent months, and another $ 20b not allocated in the back pocket in case that it is necessary.
