Tamariki chief concedes ‘racism’
Structural bias has led to poor outcomes for Māori children
Defiant Oranga Tamariki boss Grainne Moss says will not resign from the controversial ministry. Moss yesterday afternoon insisted she was committed to the welfare agency to make change and had not been asked by the Government to resign.
The Belfast-born chief executive said she has had “very effective” conversations with new Children’s Minister Kelvin Davis — who has so far refused to express confidence in her.
The two were still getting to know each other, she said.
Moss said she had “no idea” where the rumours came from that she was set to resign.
Her agency has been under intense scrutiny since video was published of the uplift of a week-old Māori baby in Hastings last year.
It has led to no less than five reviews of Oranga Tamariki and its uplift practices.
The number of children in state care and the number of uplifts has fallen under Moss’ watch, and partnerships are being created with iwi to prevent their tamariki from going into care or keeping them within extended family.
But many prominent Māori leaders remain deeply distrustful of the ministry and believe that transformational change is yet to occur.
Moss yesterday appeared before the Waitangi Tribunal in Wellington.
She made a frank concession of structural racism within Oranga Tamariki’s systems, which had led to poor outcomes for Māori tamariki taken from their whānau.
“The structural racism that exists in the care and protection system reflects broader
Structural racism has also meant more tamariki Māori being reported. Grainne Moss
society and has also meant more tamariki Māori being reported to it,” she told the hearing.
“The Crown should have identified the need to tackle structural racism head on in the establishment of Oranga Tamariki.”
She also told the inquiry that the Crown had failed to fully put in place the recommendations of the 1998 report Puao-te-Ata-tu about a Māori perspective for social support.
Speaking to reporters, she said making the concessions was “very emotional”.
It was the first time she had publicly admitted Oranga Tamariki’s ingrained racism. Earlier in the day, a Māori Television report said Moss was poised to depart from the troubled children’s welfare agency.
On Monday, Children’s Commissioner Andrew Becroft issued a report calling for the Government to transfer power and resources to Māori to care for children who might otherwise be dealt with by the state. The move would enable a “By Māori, for Māori” approach.