A comment from “weka” on Winston Peters and Whanau Ora as posted at The Standard:

We had a discussion the other day about Whanau Ora funding $60,000 to a rugby club (the A Modest Proposal post). Lots of people took Winston Peters’ word that the funding was for ‘economic and sociological research’, and assumed that the club didn’t have the skills or knowledge to make good use of the funds. The media spent a day or two cut and pasting what Peters had said.

By yesterday National Radio had managed to find out some actual, real details about the projects that the funding was for (as opposed to Peters’ self-serving spin). Hateatea posted a link to this yesterday, but I see that no-one has replied, despite there having been over 90 comments on this subject. So in case anyone missed it, here is what National Radio reported.

Rahui Rugby and Sports Club in Otaki is defending its use of a Whanau Ora grant which is facing political criticism. For two days running New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has attacked the funding during Question Time in Parliament. But the club says it’s justified in receiving the $60,000.

President Rex Kerr says the money was used to secure the right to host a Heartland Cup game between Ngati Porou-East Coast and Horowhenua-Kapiti.
Alongside that game a special Maori rugby festival was run to capitalise on the Rugby World Cup visitors, and celebrated all things Maori.

He says many Maori groups were there, as well as organisations who promoted healthy living, budgeting, and the campaign against family violence.
Mr Kerr says people were also able to receive a free health check during the event.
He says the money was also used to fund research, which looked at how whanau work together, their involvement in sport, and their interaction in community.

The study was carried out by Te Wananga o Raukawa, the Maori tertiary provider in Otaki. The money was made available through the Whanau Innovation, Integration and Engagement Fund.

There is a bit more in the article with comments by Turia on Whanau Ora.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/107125/rugby-club-justifies-whanau-ora-grant

Strangely, I can’t seem to find any other media reports on this update. Now why would that be?

So, as it turns out, the project does look like appropriate use of govt funding.