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The chair of Te Pou Matakana, the North Island Whanau Ora Commissioning Agency, is welcoming major reform of child protection system.
Merepeka Raukawa Tait says while she challenged the fact the review panel chaired by Dame Paula Rebstock started with no Maori members, it proved itself capable of radical thinking.
Cabinet has agreed to overhaul Child, Youth and Family and to put a stronger focus on reducing the over-representation of Maori young people in the system.
Mrs Raukawa Tait says a new entity is needed.
"There is not much good trying to tinker with the existing organisation that has not served its client group and service users, thousands of young New Zealanders over the years. There's not much good with tinkering around with that. You need to get rid of that department and you need to look clearly at what are some of the new skill sets, some of the new people that need to be brought on board to create a new organisation that will co-invest, co-design and co-deliver with other organisations such as the one that I lead, Te Pou Matakana," she says.
Merepeka Raukawa Tait says as well as Child Youth and family, there need to be changes in health, education and youth justice.
MEREPEKA RAUWKAWA TAIT INTERVIEW
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