The National Maori Authority Chair is fighting off negative backlash from the Government's latest budget

More than a billion dollars is being dedicated to supporting Maori.

The funding covers more Maori-specific health and wellbeing initiatives, with 168-million going directly to the new Maori Health Authority.

However, the Maori Party's hit back saying the support isn't good enough.

Matthew Tukaki doesn't agree with the criticism.

He says it's not helpful because it feeds negative criticism of something he believes is quite positive.