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The Whanau Ora Iwi Leaders Group says its concerns about the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families (Oranga Tamariki) Legislation Bill have been eased after talking with Social Development Minister Anne Tolley.
Co-chair Rahui Papa says the group was especially alarmed the priority to first place a child within a whaanau home contained within the current legislation would be removed.
He believes Mrs Tolley now understands iwi views on the need for children to remain as much as possible within the korowai of extended whaanau, hapuu and iwi, and for extended whaanau to be at the centre of decisions about what is to happen to their mokopuna.
He says the safety of the child must come first, but this does not need to be at the exclusion of wider whaanau capable of providing safe, secure and loving home environments.
Mr Papa will deliver Waikato-Tainui’s submission on the bill to the Social Services Select Committee today.
Pressure from the iwi leaders, Maori Women's Welfare League and other groups has led Mrs Tolley to consider changes to her bill.
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