A history of health

❚ New Zealand’s health camp movement was started during WWI and began as outdoor camps to help children suffering tuberculosis or malnourishment.

❚ In 1932, Otaki became the first permanent camp to open and was built on 28ha of land gifted by local man Byron Brown. Other government-run camps sprouted around the country.

❚ By mid-century, children were sent to the camps for many health-related reasons and some from less privileged backgrounds went because it was felt they could use a holiday. ‘‘The camp is like their Disneyland; that’s the only way to put it.

‘‘That’s the closest to outdoor rugged-type things that these kids will ever get to see because we can’t afford it.

‘‘And at the same time it’s good for society. If the Government is not forward-thinking in how they’re looking, then maybe it’s going to take someone like myself to come out and tell them.’’

She said the number of children with these issues was increasing, and many ended up getting into trouble with police or other agencies if there wasn’t enough support early on.

Her son had been in the cells three times before the age of 10.

‘‘People say, ‘well, why can’t you control them?’. The thing is, it’s like an an adult man coming at you with domestic violence. And this is a child, but they’ve got that power with it.’’

He ‘‘almost killed’’ three children at school once because they were saying he had no brain.

Now he has learnt to use a ‘‘chill card’’ if he gets upset in class, to go for a walk outside.

Ngatai believes it’s wrong to not fund mental illness treatment for children who were born with ADHD while offering services to criminals who at times had brought issues on themselves.

In a media statement, Stand chief executive Dr Fiona Inkpen said the organisation would continue its intensive family wraparound services in the central and southern regions, just not the camps.

‘‘I want to reassure our children and families that Stand is not going anywhere.’’

Stand has not had a funding increase since 2009 and previously met operating shortfalls from its own reserves.

Children’s Minister Tracey Martin said Oranga Tamariki assured her there was a range of providers who would ‘‘continue to provide the intensive social work that makes the most difference to children and their families’’.