June 21, 2016
Whanau ora better option for tamariki
The chair of North Island Whanau Ora commissioning agency Te Pou Matakana says a warning by outgoing Children’s Commissioner that the needs of vulnerable children could be compromised while Child, Youth and Family is restructured is spot on the mark.
Merepeka Raukawa-Tait says Russell Wills has been an exceptional commissioner.
She says his latest report highlights how so much is done for children in care is uncaring and inappropriate, and lip service is paid to things like a the cultural needs of the young person.
That’s why there needs to be more consideration of using whanau ora providers.
"I just think the top down approach from a government agency, those days are gone and it's now the community organisations such as Whanau Ora to get in there and do the job because we know our families, we know the communities from which they come, we know the support that they need, we know about the cultural responses that have to be applied to. To the children and to the families and so we can just get in and do the job," she says.
Merepeka Raukawa Tait says Maori through whanau ora need to take control back for children and families, rather than resetting the system for another cycle of failure.
MEREPEKA RAUKAWA TAIT INTERVIEW
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