M¯aori can chart own path, says tribunal

The Waitangi Tribunal has called on the Government to step back from intruding into Ma¯ ori communities, ruling the care of Ma¯ ori children by Oranga Tamariki has breached the Treaty of Waitangi.

The tribunal, which released its report yesterday after a two-year inquiry into Oranga Tamariki uplifts, has said an independent Ma¯ ori Transition Authority should be created to reform the agency’s care and protection system for tamariki Ma¯ ori.

‘‘Ma¯ ori must be given the right to chart their own path towards realisation in contemporary times of the Treaty promise of rangatiratanga over their ka¯ inga,’’ the tribunal said.

However, it did not support calls for the complete abolition of Oranga Tamariki or the direct transfer of the agency’s resources and responsibilities to a Ma¯ori authority. The tribunal said the temporary authority should be tasked with recommending what functions and responsibilities be transferred to Ma¯ori communities and organisations.

Minister for Children Kelvin Davis said the tribunal’s findings were ‘‘in alignment’’ with how he had directed Oranga Tamariki, however he needed time to consider the report thoroughly. ‘‘It needs to be done properly and it needs to be done carefully . . . It is a priority for me personally, as a Ma¯ ori, as well as a minister.’’

Oranga Tamariki acting chief executive Sir Wira Gardiner said, in a statement, the tribunal’s recommendations were ‘‘serious and require significant consideration’’.

‘‘We acknowledged early on in the inquiry that disparities for Ma¯ ori exist. Work to address these disparities within Oranga Tamariki is already well under way and this report will also inform our approach to addressing institutional bias.’’