Listen Now: 
February 16, 2021
Stronger whanau key to Oranga Tamariki reform
Waatea Team
Posted On February 16, 2021
One of the claimants in the Waitangi Tribunal inquiry into Oranga Tamariki believes it’s inevitable the child protection agency will devolve some of its services to Māori.
The tribunal is hearing closing submissions this week, and Lady Tureiti Moxon says the voices of grieving families have finally been heard.
She and fellow claimants met this week with Children’s Minister Kelvin Davis, Oranga Tamariki acting head Sr Wira Gardiner and ministerial advisor board chair Matthew Tukaki, and says they all seemed to be on the same page that some transfer of resources was necessary.
She says the emphasis needs to be on making families stronger rather than removing children.
"We need to ensure our parents are the best parents they can be,so they can look after their own, to strengthen them and strengthen their needs so they can fulfil their own moemoea and their own aspirations as to what they want for their children and you can't do that within a state system. You've got to bring it out of a state system so our tamariki mokopuna can participate within their own communities," she says.
Lady Moxon says claimants hope for a standalone independent Māori agency to run Oranga Tamariki functions.
!["p_facebook"]("/site/uma/images/story_img/facebook.jpg")
& !["p_twitter"]("/site/uma/images/story_img/twitter.jpg")
Copyright © 2021, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com
RELATED NEWS
