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The government has announced a meeting of high-profile Maori leaders to help “fix” Oranga Tamariki.
The ministerial advisory board begins work on February 1 and is composed of Dame Naida Glavish, Shannon Pakura, Sir Mark Solomon and is chaired by Matthew Tukaki.
This follows the January 22 resignation of Oranga Tamariki CEO Grainne Moss, who resigned after four tumultuous years at the helm of the agency charged with caring for vulnerable children.
Moss came under fire from the wider Maori community after public controversy that followed the attempt to remove a baby from his mother at Hastings Hospital in 2019.
ROBERT KITCHEN / Things
Minister in charge of Child Welfare, Kelvin Davis.
READ MORE:
* Timeline: the path to resignation of Oranga Tamariki CEO Grainne Moss
* Oranga Tamariki CEO Grainne Moss resigns
* Oranga Tamariki’s boss, Grainne Moss, under fire, but for what exactly?
Sir Wira Gardiner was named interim CEO in his place.
Oranga Tamariki’s minister in charge, Kelvin Davis, said the government was committed to fixing the child care and protection system, and ensuring that Oranga Tamariki was “the organization people trust and turn to for help. ”.
“Over time accusations, issues and concerns have been raised regarding Oranga Tamariki and its practice and culture; their lack of coordination with other NGOs; and its relationship with many Maori communities. “
He said the new board would examine three main areas: relations with families and Maori, the professional practice of social workers and organizational culture.
Dame Naida Glavish has joined a new advisory board to help oversee the progress of Oranga Tamariki.
When Moss resigned, Davis said leading the agency was one of the most difficult roles in public service “and I respect the decision he has made and the dignified way in which he has done it.”
Last year, Davis publicly refused to express his confidence in Moss.
Davis said the new advisory board would provide “real-time” updates on progress at the agency, outside of formal data and reports.
Last November, the Children’s Commissioner’s Office released a report calling on the state to relax control of care for at-risk Maori children, handing over all “all aspects” of decision-making to relocate children. children to Maori.
Dean Kozanic / Stuff
Ngai Tahu leader Sir Mark Solomon will be part of the new advisory board.
He recommended that the Government begin by providing resources to the iwi, hapū and maori organizations to find out how the system would work.
Tukaki is the executive director of the Maori Council of New Zealand. Dame Naida has worked in the health sector and with iwi groups.
Pakura was as previously president of the Association of Social Workers of Aotearoa. Sir Mark has been a leader with the iwi Ngai Tahu of the South Island.
The first report from the board was expected on June 30.
