Finance Minister Nicola Willis has announced changes to the government's FamilyBoost scheme saying thousands of families will now benefit. The proportion of early childhood fees people can claim back under the policy will rise from 25% to 40%. And families earning up to $230,000 a year will now be able to claim a rebate. 

Whānau Manaaki CEO Amanda Coulston was interviewed by TVNZ Breakfast News, alongside Simon Lauber from the Early Childhood Council. 

On whether increasing the threshold will make a tangible difference to families, Amanda said: 

“The real issues are the obstacles to families being able to access FamilyBoost. Having to sign up to IRD, having to keep receipts and then claim back. So families are still going to have to pay up front and then those that have the wherewithal will be able to get a rebate. So it hasn't addressed any of those issues. 

It hasn't addressed the issues for families who don't have English as their first language or don't have access to computers. It doesn't deal with the issues around people who are not necessarily parents but actually pay fees, like grandparents, they're not eligible. And it doesn't deal with the really big issue, which is control over fee charging. There's nothing to stop profit oriented services from increasing fees". 

Read the full details of the FamilyBoost changes here.