November 26, 2020
Slap for Minister of Separatism
Children’s Minister Kelvin Davis has been tagged the Minister for Separatism for his defence of Oranga Tamariki.
Mr Davis this week ruled out implementing a recommendation by the Children’s Commissioner that responsibility and resources for the protection of tamariki Māori be devolved from his agency to iwi and Māori organisations, saying he did not support separatism.
Merepeka Raukawa-Tait, the chair of the North Island Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency, says it was a foolish comment, as separating children from their whānau and their whakapapa is what Oranga Tamariki does.
"What he could have said is 'there's an opportunity now for me to just absolutely take on board the recommendations, particularly of Judge Becroft.' So this is not about separatism. This is about wanting our children to be safe and well if there is ever a necessity to take them into state care. But we want to front foot this, invest in our families so they don't come into state care. That's what we are saying. That has nothing to do with separatism," she says.
Ms Raukawa Tait says the crown’s admissions of systemic racism to this week’s Waitangi Tribunal hearing on Oranga Tamariki highlighted the need for change.
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