May 14, 2024
No shame as Chhour skips date with tribunal
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Te Pāti Māori is disgusted by the tabling of a Bill in Parliament yesterday to repeal Section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act.
The move means Children’s Minister Karen Chhour won’t have to front up to the Waitangi Tribunal to answer questions on the justification for reform, after the Court of Appeal ruled the tribunal did have the authority to summon her.
Section 7AA requires Oranga Tamariki to have regard to its treaty obligations, take into account the whakapapa of Māori children and reduce disparities for tamariki Māori.
Te Tai Tokerau MP Mariameno Kapa-Kingi says tabling the bill while parliament is in recess was sneaky and dishonest.
“They did a similar thing with Te Aka Wahi Ora so they have their own 100-day plan which consists of telling us they know much, much more about us and what we need. I think it’s disgusting and shameful but they are telling us something about their model,” she says,
Ms Kapa-Kingi says the Court of Appeal Court found Minister Chhour has offered no evidence for the removal of 7AA – but as a former social worker she could provide testimony for leaving it in.