July 18, 2016
Petulant ministry denies Maori cultural reality
The Maori Women’s Welfare League is challenging the Health Ministry over its refusal to fund a programme that could save the lives of hundreds of Maori babies.
The ministry has told district health boards they can’t spent money for Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy programmes on wahakura or pepi pods, despite research showing the safe sleeping devices are effective in preventing cot death.
League president Prue Kapua says bed sharing is a cultural practice that’s not going away.
She accuses the ministry of petulance and refusing to consider results.
"They believe that babies should be in separate beds, that's the policy that they've said that yes you can be in the same bedroom as the parent but you should be in a separate bed, a separate cot or bassinet. I think that probably reflects the culture of those who are making the decisions, it doesn't in any way take account of ours", says Mrs Kapua.
Prue Kapua says the ministry is ignoring coronial recommendations from at least 12 inquiries, and it’s also taking a different line to the Ministry for Social Development promotes the traditional Maori view of children as taonga.
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