despite fall in state care numbers
Oranga Tamariki says there has been a major drop in the number of Māori children entering state care in the past year.
Wednesday marks one year since the Ministry for Children introduced new laws to improve outcomes for Māori.
But lawyers and whānau advocates say from where they're standing not a lot has changed.
Manukau barrister Kingi Snelgar comes face-to-face with Oranga Tamariki regularly, as he defends rangatahi who get into trouble with the law.
It's a role he's been carrying out for three years, however, he thinks little has changed in that time.
"The social work practice and the day-to-day interactions that I have had with social workers and the plans that they develop for our tamariki have not changed one bit," he said.
"And what you are seeing is very tokenistic inclusion of Māori."
For a year, the legislation known as 7aa has committed the agency to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and binds decision-makers to consider the importance of a child's mana, culture and whakapapa.
Full article and related articles: https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2020/07/tokenistic-inclusion-of-m-ori-despite-fall-in-state-care-numbers.html
