May 27, 2015
Waikato Maori social service suspended
The Ministry of Social Development has suspended Raukura Waikato Social Services as a Child and Family Support Service for 60 days.
A Ministry spokesperson says that means it can't provide care or services to young people in the care of the ministry.
She says the ministry's priority is ensuring the smooth transition of the few remaining clients to alternative services, but there are no concerns for the safety of MSD clients.
Raukura Waikato was contracted to provide just over $1 million of services for Child Youth and Family in the 2014/15 financial year.
The spokesperson says a number of issues have been raised with the ministry about the provider, and the decision to suspend was made after a consideration of quarterly approval reviews and independent expert advice.
The suspension provides time for Raukura Waikato to consider their position and decide how they wish to proceed.
Meanwhile another social services provider, Relationships Aotearoa, yesterday announced it is being forced to close after talks with the ministry broke down.
It now has a deficit of $1.5 million after the government cut its budget in 2012 by $4 million.
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