Collins Judith: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Collins Judith: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:630;Page:2355] 
8.  
JUDITH COLLINS (National—Clevedon) 
 to the  
Minister of Health 
: Is he satisfied that all district health board funding for Family Start programmes is being correctly applied; if so why? 
Hon PETE HODGSON (Minister of Health) 
: 
 No not entirely. 
Judith Collins 
: Is the Minister satisfied that Family Start contracts awarded through district health boards have been contracted in a manner untainted by personal considerations and benefits? 
Hon PETE HODGSON 
: The member may be aware that one such contract involving the Southland District Health Board is now currently under investigation and has been for a matter of weeks. 
Georgina Beyer 
: Why has the Government increased investment in Family Start? 
Hon PETE HODGSON 
: Because Family Start works. Last year the Government funded a $10 million expansion of Family Start to 11 new sites bringing the total to 27 programmes around the country. Family Start is about building strong families and enabling them to work towards bright futures for our children. 
Judith Collins 
: In what way were the best interests of the most vulnerable children in Invercargill put first when the Southland District Health Board rejected Barnardos’ proposal and awarded the $3.6 million Family Start contract to a trust reported to consist of three family members two of whom hold senior positions with that very same Southland District Health Board?  
Hon PETE HODGSON 
: The two people who hold senior positions with the Southland District Health Board have both stepped aside pending the results of a financial audit. The transfer of the Family Start programme to a new trust has already been effected and the children and families of Invercargill have noticed seamlessness. 
Judith Collins 
: When did the Southland District Health Board first become aware of potential corruption within Murihiku Whanau Services and its administration of Family Start Invercargill and how much of the $3.6 million contract has been paid to Murihiku Whanau Services so far? 
Hon PETE HODGSON 
: The Southland District Health Board carefully does not use the words “potential corruption” and neither do I. There are however certainly more questions than answers around that contract at the moment. I am not sure when the board first became aware of the issue and I cannot remember when I first became aware of it either but it was about 3 or 4 weeks ago. 
Judith Collins 
: How many other Family Start contracts have been awarded by and to the same people? 
Hon PETE HODGSON 
: I am not aware of any. 
Judith Collins 
: Is the Minister satisfied that no other district health boards are awarding Family Start and other contracts to trusts run by board members and senior management staff; if not will he now ask all district health board members and senior staff to disclose their personal interests in the millions of dollars that should be going to our most vulnerable families? 
Hon PETE HODGSON 
: I am advised that the other four Family Start programmes funded through district health boards—that is the Waitemata District Health Board the Wairarapa District Health Board the Nelson Marlborough District Health Board and the Otago District Health Board—continue appropriately and to a high standard.