November 23, 2012
Waipareira eying long game over contracts
Te Whānau ō Waipareira is considering whether to appeal a High Court decision backing the Ministry of Social Development’s decision to axe its Family Start Contract.
In his judgment Justice Priestly praised MSD managers and officials, upheld their right to make decisions based on strict contract performance, and ruled out any Treaty of Waitangi dimension to the relationship.
Waipareira Chief Executive John Tamihere says he is not surprised by the result, but it’s not the end of the fight to keep the programme, which involves regular visits to at-risk families with young children.
"There are always judges that get it wrong. We are looking at the merits of our appeal. We could appeal to the Court of Appeal, we could go to the Supreme Court after that, and here's the thing, there will be an election. Ministers come and go, Te Whānau ō Waipareira won't. We outlasted Muldoon. We've outlasted the lot so it doesn't matter if Paula Bennett and her mates are there today, they won't be there a lot of tomorrow," he says.
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