By Maori, for Maori the only way forward for our kids – MANA Movement

“The current CYPF service continues to fail our kids, and the government’s proposed changes will make things even worse. The only way forward for our kids, is for Maori – for whanau, hapu, iwi, communities, organisations – to develop and lead the solutions ourselves” said MANA Leader Hone Harawira. “It’s a no-brainer.”

A nationwide hui, called by the President of the Maori Women’s Welfare League, is being held today to discuss the government’s proposed changes to the CYPF Act to remove the emphasis on whanau, hapu, and iwi in the placement of tamariki Maori in care, and determine future action.

“CYFS continues to stuff up and the government continues to look for blame elsewhere. Instead of working to bring whanau, hapu, and iwi together to make arrangements for tamariki in need, the government wants to cut us off from our kids altogether.”

“And worse than the finger-pointing, blame-game, it’s a move driven by the same ugly racist and assimilationist agenda all over again: get our kids off us and make them no longer Maori.”

“A huge mihi to Prue and the League for calling the hui. Myself and the rest of the MANA Movement look forward to helping put the solutions in place.”