Women’s league challenges child law haste

The Maori Women’s Welfare League has written to the Ministers for Social Development and Maori Development asking for a delay to legislation overhauling the care and protection of children and young people.

President Prue Kapua says the majority of children in state care are Maori, so Maori need to be part of a considered discussion about what is needed.

She says while it hasn’t always worked as well as it should, the current law grew out of the 1988 Puao Te Ata Tu Report which recommended there be a role for whanau, hapu and iwi in the care and protection of tamariki and rangatahi.

"Taking that out ofthe proposed legislation is a really significantissue without consulting those who've been working in the area, mai ra ano. There are a number of levels which there are treaty breaches that appear to be occurring," says Prue Kapua.

She says the league is considering a Waitangi Tribunal claim over the issue.

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