Budget 2006: Nearly $70m to reduce violence

The Government put an additional $68.8 million over four years into programmes aimed at reducing violence.

The money would go to programmes spanning different ministries including Social Development, Child, Youth and Family, Justice, Education and Police.

Funding (spread over four years) and projects announced today were:

* $11.5m for a community prevention campaign aimed at stopping family violence and changing attitudes towards violence and abusive behaviour;

* $17.5m to expand the Youth Transition Service. It resources communities to help at-risk school leavers and $10m was earmarked for additional service delivery in South Auckland in response to gang problems;

* $6m of operating funding with $4.5m (over two years) capital investment for an electronic enrolment information system. It would enable alerts when students were absent from school for long periods;

* $643,000 for Project Early -- an early intervention programme designed to help at risk three to eight year-old children in Christchurch and Auckland targeting behavioural programmes.

Social Development Minister David Benson-Pope said initiatives targeting truancy, disruptive behaviour in schools and at risk youth, along with targeting family violence, would make communities safer.

"We want strong families, free from violence, living in strong communities," he said.

"We believe family violence is a critical problem because its high incidence and human costs are unacceptable."

Previously announced funding of just under $30m was targeted at tackling problem behaviour in schools, family violence prevention and Victim Support.

- NZPA