as ACT pushes back on Māori-led overhaul
The Prime Minister made the admission on Friday after the Waitangi Tribunal released the findings of an inquiry launched in October 2019 over concerns Māori children were significantly overrepresented in state care.
The Waitangi Tribunal has told the Crown to step back and let Māori establish an independent Māori authority to overhaul Oranga Tamariki, the Government department that came under the spotlight after distressing child uplifts were caught on camera.
"I have seen uplifts before. I know how traumatic they are to watch solely as a witness and I cannot imagine what it would be like to be a family member in the moment in time that a child is removed," Ardern said.
"Whilst I haven't always seen individual clips, I have generally seen uplifts, and I think the joint goal of all of us is to try and reduce and remove the need to uplift children altogether, but at the same time make sure that our children are safe."
Ardern said she had only just received the report and wanted to "give it the time that it deserves" by looking over the findings to decide how best to "rebuild" Oranga Tamariki.
Link to article: Ardern acknowledges 'failings' in state care as ACT pushes back on Māori-led overhaul (msn.com)
