Maori Council launch new resources focused on children in State Care – “end violence; change the system”

The New Zealand Maori Council will launch a new online campaign on Friday unveiling the facts, challenges and change that needs to occur when it comes to the state of the nation’s childcare system. The campaign will also focus on what more whanau and families need to do when it comes to the safety and protection of children. Matthew Tukaki, Executive Director of the Maori Council, has said that if we are going to make a meaningful impact when it comes to the number of children in state care and what leads them there honest and tough conversations are needed:

“More than 70% of children in state care are Maori. More than 80% of children in the juvenile and youth justice arena are Maori and we are overrepresented in the adult prison population. What we need are not only honest conversations of the sustained failure of the system we also need to do more as Maori to protect our children from harm and much of that needs to start in our homes and communities.” Tukaki said

“The campaign is a pre-cursor to the introduction of new provisions in the act that will require Oranga Tamariki to work more closely with whanau and over the next few weeks and months will be launching more resources that are around awareness, the things to look out for and how to respond as well as your rights when it comes to the system.” Tukaki said

“I am also conscious that we need real leadership when it comes to the challenges facing whanau and our tamariki and the New Zealand Maori Council won’t shy away from leading those bold conversations, holding the system to account and supporting our people.” Tukaki said.

“I’d also add the point that while we have little funding and next to no resources; that will not stop us.” Tukaki said

The New Zealand Maori Council will also shortly mount a campaign addressing housing and housing affordability, suicide prevention and tackling the meth epidemic.

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