February 09, 2017
Tolley can’t ignore Maori voices
Former associate social development minister Dame Tariana Turia says the current minister Anne Tolley must listen to Maori anger over her reform of state care.
A provision which required Child Youth and Family to look to the extended whanau and hapu to place children in care has been dropped from the legislation setting up the replacement Ministry for Vulnerable Children Tamariki Oranga.
Dame Tariana says the result will be children totally disconnected from their whanau and their culture, and ministers needs to listen to what Maori are saying.
"While (ministers) might think we don't vote for some of them, the fact is they represent us in that environment and they have a responsibility to all of us and they certainly have a responsibilty to see that Maori children are placed within the context of who they are," she says
Dame Tariana says every child wants to be in a loving, caring home, and those homes can be found within the wider network of kin if CYFS did the job it was given.
Submissions on the bill have been extended to March 3.
Copyright © 2017, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com