Human barricade protesting baby uplifts at Waitākere Hospital

Friday, 12 June 2020

Protesters made a human barricade at Waitakere Hospital in Auckland.

Dozens of people set up a human barricade outside an Auckland hospital to protest possible uplifts of newborn babies from their mothers into state care on Friday.

The two women, who both gave birth at Waitākere Hospital in West Auckland this week, have been fighting to keep their babies in their care.

The uplifts come just days after Children's Commissioner Judge Andrew Becroft, in his report Te Kuku o te Manawa released on Monday, said personal accounts from Māori mothers highlighted 'deep systemic issues' in the state care and protection system.

Supporters gathered outside the Waitākere Hospital to form a human barricade.

One of the mothers made a desperate plea on social media, asking for help to keep her baby.

* Oranga Tamariki review: 'Treatment of Māori women has been inhumane'

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Oranga Tamariki had issued an Interim Custody Order on June 5 before her baby was born and this was presented to her the day after she gave birth.

Waipareira Trust chief executive John Tamihere said it took five minutes of phone calls to stop the uplift.

She claimed that since then, someone had been standing guard outside her room to prevent her from leaving with the baby.

Waitematā DHB chief advisor tikanga Dame Naida Glavish said they didn't support any uplifts on hospital properties.

But, Oranga Tamariki has said there had been no attempt to take the baby away from the mum.

Deputy executive services for children and families north, Glynis Sandland, said a decision hadn't been made whether to remove the baby, and it was continuing to explore the best options.

The mum admitted she had an ugly background and, in the past, had four of her children removed from her care because of alcohol and drug abuse, and domestic violence.

'I have been asking them for professional support because I do admit I got an ugly background but this time I'm determined to do whatever it takes.'

Children’s Commissioner, Judge Andrew Becroft.

Waipareira Trust chief executive John Tamihere, who stepped in on Friday to help the mothers and after finding proper accommodation and support for both of them, said he had been assured by an Oranga Tamariki executive that the babies could stay with their mothers.

He said he was disappointed the trust was never brought in to engage with the ministry on child uplift cases.

He called plans to uplift the babies a disgrace which created a stressful situation for young mothers when solutions could be found.

'It's outrageous, we had to bring 20 to 30 people out as a human barricade and it took a few phone calls to get the right result.'

Sandland said OT had been working with one of the mums for a number of years and, during the pregnancy, addressed safety concerns for the baby.

Interim custody was granted to ensure the safety of the child but under this order, the baby could be placed in the care of any person and not necessarily away from the mother, where there was support for both.

A meeting is scheduled next week with iwi and community providers to discuss how they can work together.

Tamihere said ripping children from their mothers hands won't solve their issues.

'Every problem Oranga Tamariki said they had was resolved in minutes by us, but see we didn't know about this. We are the people out here, a Māori community is not a contact or consulted to see whether we can put together a system.

'If we thought for one moment any of those babies were at risk, we would agree to an uplift but there is no consultation.'

Waitematā District Health Board chief advisor tikanga Dame Naida Glavish said it was unacceptable that Oranga Tamariki was uplifting babies from its hospital.

She said district health boards made clear last year that it would not support any uplifts from any of its properties.

'We are here to support the mother and the baby and it is hopeful that with that support we can find a solution for everyone,' Glavish said.

'They (Oranga Tamariki) just walk in and does what it does. At some places they can do that, well this is not one of them.'

'If Oranga Tamariki developed a better relationship with the Māori services, and Māori organisations on what they intend to do in terms of an uplift of a Māori mokopuna then it wouldn't have the problems that it is having, but of course it is acting in what it calls its own legal right and to hell with everyone else.'

Sandland said there was no uplift order on the second baby and claims that there was an attempt to take it away from were incorrect.

'Social workers have been working with the mother and will continue to do so to address care and protection concerns.

'We do not have a formal agreement with the Waitematā District Health Board which prevents us from taking babies into our care.'