April 29, 2021
Puao Te Ata Tu vision in Oranga Tamariki-iwi partnership
Ngāti Kahungunu chair Ngahiwi Tomoana says he’s been waiting 30 years for the opportunities contained in a new partnership with Oranga Tamariki.
He says the time has come to put in place the vision laid out in the 1988 Pūao Te Ata Tū report of the Department of Social Welfare, which weren’t implemented a the time because of a lack of political courage and will.
Since it got involved in stopping the uplift of a newborn boy for Hastings Hospital two years ago, the iwi has built the frameworks needed to take over many Oranga Tamariki functions in the Hawke’s Bay, not just for Ngāti Kahungunu children and young people but for other iwi, Pasifika and Pākehā.
"And that strategic partnership says not one more child will be uplifted and if there is any early warning, we would be involved as an iwi in that process and OT says OK, we will send everything to you. So that's step one. Step two, we've gone whai kainga – let's look for all the houses in our iwi, kainga in our iwi, that can help support whānau, not just the child but mum and possibly dad with a wider angle lens and we've done that," Mr Tomoana says.
Ngahiwi Tomoana says Oranga Tamariki has seconded senior staff to Ngāti Kahungunu Incorporated who are able to get rapid action back in the department.
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