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Ngāti Porou has signed a memorandum of understanding with Child, Youth and Family to work together on child protection.
Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says the aim is to take meaningful action towards reducing child abuse and neglect on the East Coast.
She says almost 200 of the 4900 children under the care of the department are Ngāti Porou.
A joint strategy will be developed over the next 12 months.
A similar agreement was signed with Northland iwi Ngapuhi last August.
In 2011 Child, Youth and Family established a Māori leadership governance group, Te Potae Kohatu Māori, made up of 18 senior Māori staff members, which has the aim of strengthening links between the department and iwi, whānau, and Māori service providers.
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