Criticism undeserved

Heartfelt thanks toMartin van Beynen for Are we being fair on much-maligned Oranga Tamariki? (Nov 28).

As a social worker/supervisor with over 30 years’ experience in this organisation, now long retired, I am saddened by the recent media attacks on its performance. The most frustrating aspect of the reporting is its negativity.

Since the passing of an act in 1989, a formal process is in place for at-risk children ensuring that all wha¯nau/family and professionals meet to discuss the care and protection issues for a child or children and to develop a plan.

After agreement is reached, the plan is presented to court if removal of the child from its unsafe environment is thought to be necessary while the plan is executed. The Family Court is responsible for the final decision to uplift a child, not the socialworkers involved.

A large number of Oranga Tamariki socialworkers are working through these practices, supported by supervisors. The lawwas developed in the expectation that it would encompass Ma¯ori culture, in that partieswere brought together in open discussion.

This practice may not have gone far enough for current expectations and will therefore require updating, but it was a big step in the right direction and those nowworking within this framework do not deserve the media frenzy of criticism.

The extreme content of the recent apology from Oranga Tamariki’s CEO is unwarranted and unsupportive of social workers of all ethnicities who work so hard to keep children safe.

Elizabeth Oliver, Havelock North