A new Government policy to fund about $170,000 worth of sex-change operations, has slammed by the Destiny Church political wing. Funding has been set aside for four operations over two years, with the first performed at Southern Cross Hospital by Christchurch cosmetic and reconstructive surgeon Peter Walker last month. The funding allows for three male-to-female operations, and one female-to-male, which is likely to be performed in Australia. Disgraced ex-policeman and leader of Destiny Church's political wing Richard Lewis labelled the initiative “social engineering”. "There is absolutely no justification for state funding of sex-change operations, which are operations of choice, not necessity - I think most New Zealanders would be appalled to learn that their hard earned taxes are paying for sex-changes,” he said. However, the Health Ministry says the money is coming from a $5.6 million high cost treatment budget, and the policy would be reassessed in a year or two. Surgeon Walker says the initiative is helping those who are disadvantaged. "I have patients from every walk of life. But unfortunately there are a few who have left school because they have been ridiculed," he says. "They have no education and gone on to the streets as prostitutes. They have no chance at all of getting $30,000 together."