Young Māori girl can stay with Pākehā caregivers
A Pākehā couple who adopted a young Māori girl can continue to care for her after the High Court dismissed an appeal made by the girl’s mother, which was supported by Oranga Tamariki.
Justice Helen Cull delivered her decision on the ‘Moana’ case appeal on Wednesday after a hearing in the High Court at Wellington in May.
For four years, the girl, who is now 7 years old and has been called “Moana” in Stuff’s stories about the case, has been living with the couple in a safe, healthy, loving environment in rural Hawke’s Bay.
The girl had been traumatised and neglected before Oranga Tamariki placed her with the couple (the “Smiths”) in September 2018.
Link to video and article: Moana appeal dismissed: Young Māori girl can stay with Pākehā caregivers | Stuff.co.nz
