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Rapid action by Waipareira social workers and west Auckland community members prevented the uplift of two pēpi from Waitākere Hospital this morning.
Waitematā District health board chief tikanga advisor Dame Rangimarie Naida Glavish says she agrees 100 percent with the action, which included a picket line at the hospital entrance.
She says according to a directive signed last year, the DHB will not support babies being taken from its institutions.
After the protest, the agency agreed to allow one of the mothers with her baby to stay with a sister, with daily checks until a family group conference is held.
The other mother, who had no fixed abode, will stay at the hospital until suitable housing is found.
Dame Naida says it shows the solutions are in the community, and Oranga Tamariki does not have all the answers.
The case highlights why she and other Dames and leading wāhine Māori are mounting a claim to the Waitangi Tribunal about the historic misapplication of child protection policies to Māori.
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