Maori child deaths ‘legacy’ of overrepresentation in state care

WELLINGTON: New figures show over twothirds of the children who have died in state care since Oranga Tamariki was established were Maori.

Experts say this is due to an overrepresentation of Maori in state care.

Information accessed by

via an Official Information Act request shows 23 out of the 28 children who died in state care since 2017 were Maori.

Of the 23, Oranga Tamariki said two were classified as Cook Island

Maori, one was MaoriIndian, 20 were Maori.

Four of the children were New Zealand European and one was British and Irish.

University of Otago social and community work associate professor Dr Nicola Atwool said Maori made up 60% of children in care.

‘‘[The number dying] It’s unacceptable, but as I say, it’s because Maori are nearly twothirds of the children in care, so it’s another legacy of the overrepresentation of Maori in the care system.’’

She said it also spoke to their vulnerability and the particularly detrimental effect the care system had on Maori.

Earlier, a damning review of the agency found it was ‘‘weak, disconnected and unfit’’ and the Government announced it would cease the current controversial process of child uplifts.

All 25 of the report’s recommendations have been accepted by the Government.

This change, Prof Atwool said, would ‘‘narrow the function’’ for social workers so they would only get involved when they needed to be.

Earlier this month, the revealed almost 30 children had died in state care since 2017, including five by suicide and two as a result of child abuse, homicide or manslaughter.

In a statement, Oranga Tamariki said the percentage of tamariki in state care was disproportionately Maori, which was reflected in the statistics.

‘‘The proposed changes at the agency will strengthen, restore and empower Maori and community collectives so that they can lead prevention of harm for tamariki, rangatahi and their whanau.’’ —