Iwi challenged over State care of children

A Waikato Tainui leader is challenging his iwi to take over the care of Maori children from the State.
 
On TVNZ’s Marae Investigates programme this morning,  Maharaia Paki, the younger brother of King Tuheitia said there are 200 Tainui children in State care and he believes they should be in iwi care. 
 
“At the end of the day we need to participate in the process as well and if you’re going to leave CYFs on their own they’re going to struggle and we’re going to get the results we see.” said Mr Paki.
 
Mr Paki told presenter Mirama Kamo that Tainui have the ability to ensure none of its tamariki are in State care.
 
“It’s going to take a little while to build that capacity in order for us to do that well and its about recruiting amongst our own people, training and saying that instead of the young people being pushed to institutions and strangers we will take care of them.  If we look at the 68 Marae in Tainui, if we recruited 68 carers from each of those Marae we’d have 68 carers.”
 
While he acknowledges the need to work with Government he is also challenging iwi leadership to help fund the project.  
 
“Well I hope the tribe will see the benefit of investing in their own people” Mr Paki told Marae Investigates.
 
He said the project had the support of his brother King Tuhetia.
 
“The King is also supportive of this kaupapa and he actually introduced it into his charter.  So we’ve taken his charter and Whakatupuranga 2050, Tainui’s strategic plan and we’re sort of putting this as a focal point for us ..”

ENDS

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