Ministry ‘can’t protect all kids’
MP defends Oranga Tamariki in case of boy bashed at home
We shouldn’t kid ourselves into thinking Oranga Tamariki can keep all children safe. MP Lawrence Yule
An MP has hit out at criticism of Oranga Tamariki’s handling of the case of a boy brutally beaten in his Flaxmere home, saying “they are damned if they do and damned if they don’t”.
The ministry has come under fire for returning a boy to his home where police say he was severely assaulted.
The boy, who had been previously injured in what some family claimed was a bouncy castle fall, was returned to immediate family and then seriously injured again on January 29.
Newsroom reported the child agency allegedly allowed the boy’s return without full consultation with the wider family, with some opposed to it.
Oranga Tamariki spokeswoman Alison McDonald said its priority now was to focus on the boy and his recovery.
“Because of that, our comments will be limited to protect his privacy and to acknowledge the sensitivity of the ongoing police investigation,” McDonald said.
“In January, following extensive work with the family over many months, Oranga Tamariki was satisfied there were sufficient supports from wider wha¯nau and professionals for the boy to be at home . . . Decisions like this are never made in isolation.”
National MP for Tukituki Lawrence Yule said it was a tough situation for the agency.
“We shouldn’t kid ourselves into thinking Oranga Tamariki can keep all children safe.
They can’t,” Yule said.
“Oranga Tamariki is involved in situations when sadly the rightful carers are either incapable, or have ignored or walked away from their fundamental responsibility for looking after children in their care,” he said.
The 4-year-old boy remains in Starship Hospital in a stable condition.
Yule said Oranga Tamariki had to maintain a “very difficult” balance in allowing children to be with their family versus the risk the same family could be to the child.
He said he would continue to support them in the “very challenging” work they did.
“Oranga Tamariki is caught in the scenario ‘damned if they do and damned if they don’t’.”
Kauma¯tua and community leader Des Ratima said he had been supporting the wha¯nau.
He said there was a wider issue about how the wha¯nau ended up in the situation.
“The responsibility rests with other people, including Oranga Tamariki, in terms of decisions made by the wha¯nau which weren’t followed through.”