A strengthened relationship between government and the community is the aim of a document to be signed at Parliament on 1 August.

The Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector, Tariana Turia, said the Kia Tutahi Standing Together Relationship Accord sets clear expectations about how government agencies and communities will work together.

Disabilities Minister Tariana Turia is bemused by comments made from Labour’s Carmel Sepuloni following the social services select committee hearing into Vote Social Development.

“From the negative tone of her release, I wondered if Ms Sepuloni had attended a completely different meeting” said Mrs Turia.    “The focus of my presentation was the appropriation for promoting positive outcomes for disabled persons”.

Community organisations directly responding to the needs of families and whānau experiencing family violence will receive most of the funding under the Family Centred Services Fund announced by Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment, Tariana Turia today.

Minster Turia said that in the 2011/2012 year, over $9.250 million will go to frontline services directly working with families and whānau.  This includes services funded under the previous Family Violence Whanau Ora Fund.    

Minister of Disability Issues Minister, Tariana Turia, has commended the initiative and the leadership of Nelson advocates for people with disabilities in placing the issue of accessibility on the agenda.

“’It was really positive to see the range of submissions presented by the Accessibility for All advocates, and others working on behalf of disabled persons to the Nelson City Council in their annual plan hearings” said Mrs Turia. 

Budget 2011 delivers $7.3 million of reprioritised funding over four years to drive more effective, more efficient services for sexual and reproductive health.   

“This will deliver improved sexual and reproductive health for New Zealanders,” says Associate Health Minister Tariana Turia.

Associate Minister of Health, Hon Tariana Turia, has welcomed the latest  Year 10 (14-15 year olds) smoking prevalence data for 2010 released by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH).

”The overall results are pleasing – in particular that daily smoking by Year 10 students is down to 5.5%”.

“While that is only a very small decline from 2009 (0.1%) I think we have to focus on the positive – that is, that it is still a decline, no matter how minimal” said Mrs Turia.

Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Tariana Turia is today announcing that she has secured additional funding of $3.3 million over three years for community-based initiatives to increase digital literacy and connection.

Associate Minister of Health, Hon Tariana Turia, is suggesting that New Zealanders have much to be proud of this World Smokefree Day (Tuesday 31 May 2011).

Mrs Turia has recently returned from Moscow, where she was invited to be a keynote speaker at the World Health Organisation Global Forum: Addressing the Challenges of Non-communicable Diseases.

Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Tariana Turia today announced a new initiative to support community-led development.

The announcement was made on Radio Waatea this morning.

“Community-led development puts communities at the centre of funding decisions and it allows the Government opportunity to invest in communities in a holistic way, rather than merely funding individual organisations and projects. It empowers local communities to generate local solutions to local problems.

Associate Health Minister Tariana Turia today announced a $12 million programme to reduce the rates of rheumatic fever in more vulnerable communities.

“This is an entirely preventable disease that can have serious consequences for children during childhood and throughout their lifetime. A simple sore throat can lead to permanent heart damage,” Mrs Turia says.

“The rates of rheumatic fever are now 14 times higher in New Zealand than in any other OECD country and we simply must do something about that.

The Government will invest an additional $30 million in Whanau Ora over the next four years, including $11.25 million in the coming year, Whanau Ora Minister Tariana Turia says.

The funding includes $25 million allocated in Budget 2011 and, subject to final Cabinet approval, another $5 million of reprioritised Māori Potential funding from within Vote Māori Affairs.

“The funding will maintain the momentum created by the Whanau Ora approach, with opportunities to extend coverage across the country,” Mrs Turia says.

Associate Health Minister Tariana Turia is shocked that a tobacco company would claim ‘it is not hard to quit smoking’.

The statement was made by the head of a major international tobacco company at its annual shareholder meeting.

“Make no mistake tobacco is a highly addictive substance that is claiming the lives of approximately 5000 New Zealanders every year and that alone should horrify tobacco companies.

“Tobacco casts a long shadow of death and disease that has touched almost every household in New Zealand,” says Mrs Turia.