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The head of one of the country’s largest Maori social service providers is welcoming a radical overhaul of Child, Youth and Family.
A review panel has recommended a new child-centred approach to dealing with vulnerable children and greater reliance on strategic partnerships with iwi groups and non-government organisations.
John Tamihere from West Auckland’s Waipareira Trust says with six in 10 young people in care being Maori, state agencies have come to play a large and highly disruptive role in Maori communities.
He says it’s time to give a by Maori, for Maori approach a chance.
"If they engage with our communities, if they start to transfer resources over to our communities to look after our own babies, we don't need them to the extent they think we need them," Mr Tamihere says.
He trusts Social Development Minister Anne Tolley to drive the reforms, but he doesn’t trust senior officials in her department.
Copyright © 2016, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com
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