August 26, 2020
Dames take zero tolerance to pēpi uplifts
A group of prominent wāhine Māori rangatira says Oranga Tamariki’s chief social worker needs to front up to them to defend his continued support for child uplifts.
In response to the Chief Ombudsman’s criticism of the uplift policy, Grant Bennett has said methamphetamine use is now one of the primary reasons the agency becomes involved with whānau, and a third of babies in their care came from families with meth history.
Dame Naida Glavish says Māori are fed up with the agency making the excuse there is abuse happening in the whānau.
"We know that and that's why we should be involved in caring for our babies rather than being uplifted and being abused in state care," she says.
Dame Naida says there is no justification for severing whakapapa.
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