October 30, 2023

Tragic death should inspire more vigilance of our tamariki

Peter Verschaffelt Posted On October 30, 2023

Dame Naida Glavish who led the Māori inquiry into Oranga Tamariki in 2020 says the organisation cannot be held responsible for the tragic death of Lower Hutt toddler Ruthless-Empire Souljah Reign Rhind Shepard Wall, who died last Sunday with blunt force injuries.

A homicide inquiry is underway with Dame Naida saying those responsible need to be brought to justice as a means of strengthening us all to be more vigilant in looking after our own tama ariki.

“They are of the higher realm. For heaven’s sake they are reflections of and reflections of their whakapapa and they are tomorrow’s kaumātua. Why would we do that? To our children, to our tamariki,” she says

Dame Naida says Oranga Tamariki plays a locum parentus role for those in their care but the responsibility in such situations as this falls with the whanau.