147 Bay babies uplifted in six years
The number of babies in Hawke’s Bay uplifted by Oranga Tamariki has increased in the past six years — a statistic labelled as “horrific”.
According to documents released to Hawke’s Bay Today under the Official Information Act (OIA), 147 babies in Hawke’s Bay, from unborn to 365 days old, entered into the care or custody of Oranga Tamariki, under a number of pathways, between July 1, 2012, to March 31, 2019.
Ma¯ori babies taken accounted for more than half of that number.
For the 2012-13 financial year (July 1 to June 30), 18 babies were taken, 14 of which were Ma¯ori. This increased to a total of 22, with 15 Ma¯ori, in the 2013-14 financial year.
The number decreased to 15, with 12 Ma¯ori in 2014-15, and again to 14, with 11 Ma¯ori in 2015-16.
However, it increased to the highest number recorded in the seven years, with 28 babies taken, including 19 Ma¯ori in 2016-17.
This increased again, to a total of 35, with 26 Ma¯ori in 2017-18.
As of March 31, this year, a total of 15 babies had been taken by Oranga Tamariki, including 12 Ma¯ori.
Steve Groom, Oranga Tamariki’s general manager, public, ministerial and executive services, said: “While our statutory duty and key concern must always be keeping children safe, the decision to recommend bringing a child into our care is one of the most difficult decisions our staff have to make.
“It is not a decision we take lightly, and there are, quite rightly, a strong set of checks and balances in the process.”
All custody orders for unborn and newborn babies are made on an interim basis. Permanent orders are only made after planning around the needs, risks and strengths of the parent(s), wha¯nau and baby has been completed.
Hawke’s Bay District Health Board member, and Hastings District Councillor, Jacoby Poulain said any uplift of a newborn was “one too many”.
“Those numbers are horrific. What’s more horrific is that I believe most of mainstream New Zealand simply assume these numbers are due to the shocking state of the families. This is often not true. What is hidden in the darkness is government policies, practices and biases that are contributing to this mass assault upon families, young mothers and children, in particular.”
Nga¯ti Kahungunu chairman Ngahiwi Tomoana said the figures were “appalling” and unless they came up with solutions that included input from wider wha¯nau, hapu¯ and iwi, “it will keep on happening”.
After the May 7 drama, where Oranga Tamariki attempted to take a baby from his mother at Hawke’s Bay Hospital, the iwi committed to “not one more child” being uplifted.
Tomoana says three changes needed to occur, including reforming practices within Oranga Tamariki, as well as having a direct association with the courts, so that they can speak on the wha¯nau’s behalf.
“Thirdly, we need to have supportive wha¯nau that can take these children so that if they are being uplifted because of safety fears then at least they are going to their own wider wha¯nau, hapu¯ or iwi.”
Takitimu District Maori Council chairman and Flaxmere kaumatua Des Ratima says these figures just give a statistical face to the reality. “It is certainly reinforced by the number of women, mothers and families seeking help in repatriating with their families.”
Ratima says the fact that numbers are going up is more significant than the actual count.
“The trend upwards is disturbing. The model of care and protection for our tamariki is archaic and in need of replacement. No halfway interventions will be tolerated any longer.”
Midwife Jean Te Huia, who helped support the mother in the May incident, labelled it a “humanitarian crisis”.
“When Ma¯ori represent only 19 per cent of the population, but they represent 80 per cent of the children being uplifted and put into state care, then we have a humanitarian crisis on our hands. It’s as simple as that.
“I believe it’s a breach of the women’s human rights, a breach of the baby’s rights, and a breach of the indigenous rights for indigenous children.”
Te Huia said the numbers were
"We need to have supportive wha¯nau that can take these children so that, if they are being uplifted because of safety fears, then at least they are going to their own wider wha¯nau, hapu¯ or iwi." Ngahiwi Tomoana, Nga¯ti Kahungunu chairman
increasing because of the Subsequent Children’s Act, and because of how “easy” it was for people to make a notification on the safety of a child.
Poulain said alerts can be placed for almost anything and everything.
“The government has created mass information sharing powers between agencies, whereby an ‘alert’ or ‘red flag’ can be placed next to a child’s [or mother of the child if unborn] medical record. It’s one big ring of silence that can be used abusively by agencies.”