‘Good working relationship’ sought by Minister of Oranga Tamariki, but still no trust

Oranga’s minister in charge Tamariki Kelvin Davis has declined to say he has confidence in the executive director of the child welfare agency.

When asked directly if Grainne Moss had his confidence, Davis said that “he is currently establishing a working relationship with the Oranga Tamariki leadership” and that they were barely getting to know each other.

It comes as Davis pointed out that the agency faces change under the new administration.

On Monday, Children’s Commissioner Judge Andrew Becroft released a report calling on the agency to hand over the power and resources to Maori to care for their own vulnerable children.

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The report was the second published as part of a review sparked by the attempt to remove a Maori baby from its mother at Hastings Hospital.

He called for a number of immediate changes to Oranga Tamariki’s practice and legislation, including halting the expulsion of Maori babies from hospitals and maternity wards.

Davis said he hoped to have a “constructive working relationship” with the agency.

“And it is my expectation that the ministry leadership will work hard to successfully implement the changes and the new direction, when they come.”

Moss, when she learned of the minister’s comments and his refusal to commit to expressing confidence, said that she and the leadership team had met with the minister.

“It was a constructive meeting and we look forward to working with him in the future.”

The government itself has come under pressure from Becroft to commit to the changes now that it no longer needs to deal with political partners.

Becroft said the government is now “stripped of its coalition’s conditions and restrictions.”

“This is the opportunity to make a fundamental change, and this government has the opportunity that few will have in our current system.”

Maori Assistant Commissioner for Children Glenis Philip-Barbara said “The good New Zealanders are really tired of the system failing Maori children.”

This failure created “intergenerational chaos,” he said.

Maori in the system said they needed more than just “tinkering.” “They really need the government to step up,” he said.

Davis said he supported the “general direction” of the report’s recommendations.

“I think that’s where we are already moving, but if we are going to move further in that direction, towards a ‘for Maori, by Maori’ approach, then we have to do it right.”

He said he would meet with Maori, some of the “harshest critics” and officials from Oranga Tamariki.

Davis said the government needed to engage with iwi, hapū and Maori in general to get their ideas about what a partnership would look like.

Before the report was released, Moss said there had already been a 50 percent drop in the number of Maori babies being cared for.

“This is due to our commitment to working alongside the Maori to support tamariki.”

A social worker from Oranga Tamariki said that most New Zealanders had no idea what those downstairs at the agency were dealing with.

“We are not here to take children away from their families, all the social workers I know are trying to hold families together … an elevation is the last resort for safety.”

The social worker, who Things agreed not to name, said that while there were always ways to improve the agency’s work, he wanted people to know how impossible work can be.

“If a baby is high, everyone hates us, if a baby is not high and gets hurt, then everyone hates us. They criticize us no matter what … and we’re just trying to keep the kids safe.”