February 03, 2020
Oranga Tamariki and CYFS too similar
One of the five prominent Māori women overseeing the independent Māori inquiry into Oranga Tamariki says she doesn’t believe the child protection agency is an advance on its predecessor, Child, Youth and Family.
The inquiry’s report setting out the stories of Māori whānau who have had babies and children uplifted will be released to the Iwi Leaders Forum in Waitangi this morning.
Lady Tureiti Moxon says mechanisms like ex parte orders, which allow the agency to get consent for uplifts from the Family Court without the whānau having a say, are still used far too often.
She says whānau feel disempowered and they are left traumatised.
"We don’t want the state looking after our children. Look what a mess they have made. How many more reviews do you need to find it isn't working? But they dress it up, put a bit of fluff there, put a bit of the Treaty of the Waitangi when they don't even understand what that means. They never put Māori in positions where they can influence, And that is the crux of the matter. We want our children back. We want to look after our children ourselves.
Lady Tureiti Moxon
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