23 November 2020 Reports
Te Kuku O Te Manawa - Moe ararā! Haumanutia ngā moemoeā a ngā tūpuna mō te oranga ngā tamariki
The Children’s Commissioner announced in June 2019 that his Office would undertake a thematic review of the policies, processes and practices of Oranga Tamariki relating to care and protection issues for pēpi Māori aged 0-3 months.
Our first report, Te Kuku O Te Manawa: Ka puta te riri, ka momori te ngākau, ka heke ngā roimata mo tōku pēpi, released in June 2020, presented the insights gained from interviews with mums and whānau who had experience with pēpi (aged 0-3 months) who had either been removed, or were at risk of being removed, from their whānau by Oranga Tamariki or its predecessor Child, Youth and Family. From these interviews as well as the statistical snapshot and process map, we identified six key themes and six areas for change.
This second report, Te Kuku O Te Manawa: Moe ararā! Haumanutia ngā moemoeā a ngā tūpuna mō te oranga o ngā tamariki concludes our review.
On the basis of the evidence we gathered, and through the lens of the key assumptions framing our review, we came to the clear conclusion that:
To keep pēpi in the care of their whānau, Māori must be recognised as best placed to care for
their own: this involves by Māori, for Māori approaches that are enabled by the transfer of
power and resources from government to Māori.*
Part 2 of this report canvasses specific aspects of social work practice and legislation that are required to stop harm from occurring now, and support transition to by Māori, for Māori approaches. The final chapter includes some discussion of wider influences that have influenced the direction of our recommendations.
We finish with four recommendations, with specific actions under each.
Read the full report below or see our At a Glance versions in both te reo and English here.