The Government's handling of Whanau Ora is getting more ridiculous by the day and the Prime Minister needs to front up and explain what exactly is going on, says Labour Social Development spokesperson Annette King.

"Official papers obtained by Labour show the Government obtained the Whanau Ora taskforce report at least a week and a half ago, and probably earlier as the report was circulated to key Government agencies on February 3.

"Associate Social Development Minister Tariana Turia promised to release the report yesterday, but instead 'officially' received it at a ceremony and refused to release it.

"Today Radio New Zealand reported that the Minister had said 'if non-Maori want Whanau Ora they should develop their own version' and her speech to Parliament on Tuesday made it clear the programme was designed for Maori. The official papers also make this clear - noting 'Whanau Ora services are shaped by te ao Maori'.

"Yet we have the Prime Minister trotting out quite a different line saying Whanau Ora will be for everyone," Annette King says.

"What on earth is going on? The confusion is exacerbated by comments made by Tariana Turia yesterday, when she denied the taskforce has recommended 'hand-picked providers' would be offered the first contracts.

"Again, official papers explicitly state that Government agencies were told this was the taskforce's preferred option in late December.

"It's possible the Government has since leaned on the taskforce to alter its final report - but it's impossible to know as the Government is now refusing to release it.

"Given the Government is refusing to increase spending for any social services and the Whanau Ora money will be taken from existing agency budgets, it is imperative that a proper public debate about the ramifications of this - and the privatisation of core social services - is able to be held," Annette King says.

"Adding to the secrecy, Finance Minister Bill English today refused to release to me any information about Whanau Ora under the Official Information Act, citing the need to protect the confidentiality of advice tendered by officials and ministers.

"It's not appropriate, but I'm not surprised. This project is clearly causing major behind-closed doors problems and the Government can't even give a straight definition of what the policy entails."