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October 01, 2021
Parents left out of Oranga Tamariki clean-up
Adam Gifford
Posted On October 1, 2021
Download AudioOne of the claimants in the Waitangi Tribunal Oranga Tamariki Claim says reform of the agency needs to address not just its future way of working but the past damage it has done to whānau.
Lady Tureiti Moxon welcomed the Government’s acceptance of a ministerial advisory group report recommending a complete overhaul of the agency and more partnerships with iwi and Māori community groups.
But she says control is still firmly in the hands of the crown, and whānau have little or no power.
“There’s a lot of parents who are still fighting hard to get their children back, even now. They’re not getting the support they need, either financial or advice or legal advice, because it’s just available to them, so there are things that need to be changed within all that dynamic,” Lady Moxon says.
What’s needed is not just change inside Oranga Tamariki but an environment where Māori have mana over their tamariki and their communities and can keep children safe in those communities.
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