August 31, 2012
Harawira endorses Waipareira challenge
Tai Tokerau MP Hone Harawira says it’s undeniable that Maori providers like the Waipareira Trust face far more stringent monitoring than their mainstream competitors.
The West Auckland trust has been in the High Court in Auckland this week challenging the way the Ministry of Social Development axed its Family Start contract to provide support for vulnerable families with young children.
Mr Harawira says his own experience with Maori providers in Kaitaia showed his different standards apply.
“Big Pakeha providers like churches and other get big contracts, three years with a rollover clause. Maori providers get one year contracts with huge monitoring expectations, the kind of monitoring expectations that simply don’t apply to Pakeha providers all around the country so there definitely is a large degree of institutional racism,” he says.
Cross examination of Ministry of Social Development witnesses should finish today, and the court will reconvene in late September to hear closing submissions.