November 28, 2016
League challenging CYFS changes
Wahine Maori are concerned the Government is trying to turn back the clock on ensuring tamariki and rangatahi in need of care and protection, can be connected to whanau, hapu and iwi.
The Maori Women’s Welfare League called an urgent hui in Wellington today to discuss some of the major policy shifts that have been made as part of the restructure of Child Youth and Family.
Green MP Marama Davidson, who attended, says Social Development Minister Anne Tolley is tearing up reforms instituted after the 1988 Puao Te Ata Tu report on children in state care.
"Anne Tolley wants to propose a weakening of the legislation, of the part that Maori fought really hard for, to ensure that when tamariki Maori are being placed, they are place in whanau, hapu whakapapa links," she says.
Ms Davidson says she’s pleased to see the Maori Women’s Welfare League take on the issue, which it says will reinforce institutional racism.
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