“He’d been ripped away from a happy childhood, growing up with a loving mother, connected to his marae and surrounded by family, to become a slave in the system.” — Kare Tipa writing about her Uncle Toni’s experience in state care.
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“The story that Māori are bad parents was pushed relentlessly to justify policies that have removed tens of thousands of Māori children from their whānau since World War Two.” — Kim Mcbreen.
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“I suggest the government abandon its focus on the repeal and instead allow Māori to lawfully draw on whāngai principles to addresses the needs of our most vulnerable tamariki.” — Taryn Dryfhout.
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“There remains a lack of understanding of things Māori, and an unwillingness to hand over power to hapū and iwi to make decisions under our own authority for the protection of our own children.” — Luke Fitzmaurice-Brown on Oranga Tamariki.
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“There is no property in children. Māori children know many homes, but still one whānau.” — From the landmark Pūao Te Ata Tū report, written in 1986.
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“The care and protection and the youth justice system has failed to serve the interests of our mokopuna. It continues to fail them today.” — Judge Frances Eivers.
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“What we need to do is put our mokopuna, our children first, and at the centre of all our decisions. Only then can we make this a better place for them.” — Judge Frances Eivers, Children’s Commissioner.
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“What I hear from all quarters now is this: ‘We must prioritise children. We must prioritise our mokopuna. And we’re up for that challenge.’” — Andrew Becroft, former Children’s Commissioner.
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