July 02, 2021
Assault outrage old news to Oranga Tamariki board
A member of the Oranga Tamariki advisory board says this week’s revelations about assaults at a Christchurch care and protection residence means the board’s report on the agency should come as no surprise to the public.
Dame Naida Glavish says the board is putting the finishing touches to its report, which involved more than 70 consultations around the country.
She says it has taken a whistleblower video for the public to hear and understand the pleas of young people and their whānau.
"All of them say something similar to what was on tv and it has taken a public viewing for the public to become outraged by it. Families and whānau have been outraged with some of the behaviour of some Oranga Tamariki staff for years, including me," she says.
Dame Naida Glavish says she agrees with the decision to close the Christchurch unit, as Oranga Tamariki has never seriously looked to see whether there are people within whānau, hapū and iwi to care for the tamariki.
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