Ngāi Tahu partners with Oranga Tamariki to reduce number of Māori children in state care

Monday, 12 November 2018

Ngāi Tahu chief executive Arihia Bennett says the iwi's new partnership with Oranga Tamariki is 'just the start of what is possible'.

The first partnership between an iwi and Oranga Tamariki will not cease until there are no Ngāi Tahu children in state care, the iwi's chief executive says.

But just how many Ngāi Tahu children are in the care of the former Child, Youth and Family is unclear as the figures are considered a tāonga.

Hoani Lambert, tamariki advocate at Oranga Tamariki, says a key goal at the beginning of the partnership is to recruit more Ngāi Tahu carers and social workers.

The partnership comes less than a month after Oranga Tamariki withheld information on its clients' iwi affiliations, to 'protect the privacy of iwi ancestors'. More than 4300 of the children in Oranga Tamariki care are Māori, making up about 68 per cent of the overall number.

Monday's announcement also came on the same day Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the Royal Commission into Historical Abuse in State Care will expand to include faith-based institutions.

* Oranga Tamariki withhold iwi info as means to protect privacy of ancestors**

Efforts would be made to recruit more Ngāi Tahu-affiliated carers to take on children uplifted or requiring care, said Hoani Lambert, of Oranga Tamariki.

The partnership could later focus on stemming the flow of Ngāi Tahu children going into care, improving support for children in care, and improving their transition into independence, Lambert said.

'Some iwi want to be heavily involved in the delivery of social services and others want to be involved in the decision-making process so that when decisions are being made around the placement of their mokopuna, they can be at the table.'

Ngāi Tahu chief executive Arihia Bennett said the iwi aimed to have no Ngāi Tahu tamariki in state care.

She wanted whānau to be better connected, and communities and organisations to work together to support people's needs and aspirations.

'I'm confident this is just the start of what is possible,' she said.

Lambert said it was too difficult to know how many Ngāi Tahu members already worked as caregivers, or how many might come on board through the new partnership, but he expected 'to firm up those targets over the coming months'.

'These targets have to be set within the partnership … it's not Oranga Tamariki dictating what will be delivered by iwi, it's more how we have an agreed target or measure around these programmes of work.'

Under new legislation, Oranga Tamariki is required to develop partnerships with iwi and Māori organisations by July 1 next year.