Point of Order: Ministers bray about the millions being dispensed for housing (subject to ethnicity) and cultural venues

While the Minister of Housing and her Māori Housing associate were dispensing favours as part of a race-focussed housing initiative for which they are responsible, Kiri Allan was inviting appropriately cultured oinkers to a trough replenished with $13 million of slops.

She described it as a contestable fund, which means there will be some jostling for a share of the goodies, but first in will not necessarily be served.

Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Priyanca Radhakrishnan was of a charitable disposition, too. She announced that following a comprehensive review of the Charities Act, the Government is moving ahead with changes to modernise the legislation that will increase transparency for the public, improve access to justice services and reduce the burden on smaller charities.

The changes will include reduced reporting requirements for very small charities, increased transparency on accumulated funds and a more accessible tribunal for charities that want to appeal decisions.

Housing Minister Megan Woods and Associate Housing Minister Peeni Henare jointly announced a further investment in housing to build up to 131 new homes

“… for whānau who need them most.”

This does not necessarily the investment is intended for New Zealand families who need them most because geographical and racial considerations will be involved in deciding eligibility.

The ministers joined Ngāti Kahungunu in Wellington this morning to sign a partnership, which follows on from previous agreements with Toitū Tairāwhiti in May and Ka Uruora in April this year as part of the National Māori Housing strategy, MAIHI Ka Ora.

Henare said he was committed to ensuring that this investment was made in partnership with Māori, taking a by Māori for Māori approach.

It is fair to suppose, therefore, that the beneficiaries will be living in Ngāti Kahungunu’s patch of the North Island – down the East Coast – and will be Māori.

And who decides whom will be able to get a chunk of the money earmarked for Māori housing?

Henare gave us the answer:

“Ngāti Kahungunu were identified through the National Iwi Chairs Forum last year as an iwi ready to partner with the Government to deliver Māori housing in their rohe.”

Megan Woods brayed:

“Today’s announcement of a housing investment of $45.3 million is yet another great example of the Government working alongside Iwi and Māori to advance housing projects in a way that responds to different whānau needs, prevents homelessness, and improves Māori housing security.

“This Government has made a record investment in Māori Housing. In last year’s Budget we committed $730 million to Māori housing supply and Infrastructure.”

Associate Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Kiri Allan got to declare the Regional Culture and Heritage Fund is open for new applications.

This is a capital fund of last resort for public art galleries, museums, performing arts venues and whare taonga.

Heritage buildings housing significant collections are also eligible for funding consideration.

Applications to the RCHF (according to the press statement) should be for genuine fundraising shortfalls which prevent an otherwise construction-ready project to proceed at pace.

The RCHF was established in 2016 with a multi-year appropriation of $29.527m.

In 2018-19 its multi-year appropriation was renewed for another four years with an indicative allocation of $6.667m a year. Since 2016, over $39.732 million in funding has been allocated to 26 projects.

Subject to the quantity and calibre of applications, up to $13 million is up for grabs in the new round, Allan said.

Some applications may be to commence seismic strengthening projects as a matter of urgency, she suggested. Others may be climate crisis response projects to improve an institution’s energy and water use efficiencies.

She also encouraged applications for projects making taonga collections safer and more accessible to communities.

Cultural institutions funded in the last round were Te Pou Theatre, Henderson, Auckland ($1,170,356) and the Sir Howard Morrison Performing Arts Centre, Rotorua ($632,000).

Point of Order is a blog focused on politics and the economy run by veteran newspaper reporters Bob Edlin and Ian Templeton