Oranga Tamariki move ‘another stab in the back’
The Government is being accused of turning its back on Ma¯ori survivors of abuse in state care, as it looks to strip Treaty of Waitangi commitments from the Oranga Tamariki Act.
An urgent Waitangi Tribunal inquiry is under way into the repeal of Section 7AA, which sets down the Ministry for Children’s duty to improve outcomes for tamariki Ma¯ori.
The change is part of the Act party’s coalition deal with National.
Act leader David Seymour said that section has led to Ma¯ori children being uplifted from loving homes due to the ethnicity of the carers.
“The tribunal seems to think that’s okay. I call it race fanaticism.”
On Thursday, Seymour took his criticism of the tribunal further after it tried to summon Children’s Minister Karen Chhour for a “please explain” over the Government’s moves.
“No wonder some people think they’re past their use-by date. Perhaps
they should be wound up for their own good,” Seymour said.
That narrative is being challenged by Tupua Urlich (Nga¯ti Kahungunu), a former ward of the state separated from his wha¯nau and iwi aged 5.
He was the first survivor to speak at the Ma¯ori Public Hearing for the Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry in March 2022.
Urlich fears repealing Section 7AA could see the harm committed against Ma¯ori, which was highlighted through the inquiry, being repeated.
He said the reasons given for changing the law are pitiful. “We know time and time again they place children with strangers who go on to physically, sexually and mentally abuse these children. How about we focus the minister on legislation to prevent the state from removing kids from people they know.”
Urlich said after he was taken from his family, there was no effort to keep him connected to his culture, leaving him isolated and without identity.
He told commissioners how the stranger chosen to be his caregiver beat him almost daily, for months.
But Urlich said what hurt most was being ripped away from his wha¯nau.
He said he’s still regathering his te reo Ma¯ori knowledge and his cultural history. “It’s going to take generations to undo that harm. So when the Government turns around and fails to acknowledge our rights, it’s just another stab in the back.”
Now a father of two, Urlich, 28, works with Voyce — Whakarongo Mai, a charity advocating for children in care — trying to ensure tamariki are spared a similar ordeal.
Te Pa¯ti Ma¯ori children’s spokeswoman Mariameno Kapa-Kingi said there is enough evidence to sink a ship about the systemic failings of Oranga Tamariki for Ma¯ori kids.
She said Section 7AA, introduced in 2019, was an attempt at redress — and the most important legislative change for the agency in a decade.
“But they barely had time to give it a go. You could see from recent reporting there was fair intention and direction from this legislation.”
Kapa-Kingi said she fears the repeal means a return to the dark ages for the social services sector.
A spokesperson for Chhour said she was unable to comment because of the tribunal legal proceedings. She was summoned by the tribunal but refused to give evidence.
Crown Law said the move contravenes constitutional principles and that it would take any summons to the High Court for review.