Oranga Tamariki - Ministry for Children forms additional iwi partnerships
Thu 02 May 2019
Oranga Tamariki - Ministry for Children has signed strategic partnerships with Te Rūnanga-Ā-Iwi O Ngāpuhi and Waikato-Tainui. The strategic ...
Oranga Tamariki - Ministry for Children has signed strategic partnerships with Te Rūnanga-Ā-Iwi O Ngāpuhi and Waikato-Tainui.
The strategic partnership with Te Rūnanga-Ā-Iwi O Ngāpuhi was signed in January of this year. According to the media release, under the agreement Ngāpuhi will lead the development of a joint strategy to improve social outcomes for Ngāpuhi tamariki and whānau. The strategy will outline objectives for the next five years. This work builds on the previous Memorandum of Understanding between Te Rūnanga Ā Iwi O Ngāpuhi and the former Child, Youth and Family services.
The Waikato-Tainui strategic partnership was signed in April of this year. According to the media release, the objectives of the partnership include:
- "There are no Waikato-Tainui children in the care of Oranga Tamariki.
- That tamariki mokopuna in care are placed with or connected to their whānau, hapu, iwi and cultural identity.
- Whānau are empowered and supported to care for their tamariki mokopuna."
The partnership builds on the existing Mokopuna Ora, a project where iwi advisors work with whānau and mokopuna when tamariki come to the attention of Oranga Tamariki.
These are the second and third strategic partnerships between iwi and Oranga Tamariki. Te Rūnanga ō Ngāi Tahu signed the first strategic partnership with Oranga Tamariki in late 2018.
The Strategic Partnership Agreements are part of the child protection legislation reforms of the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 under the duties of the Oranga Tamariki - Ministry for Children Chief Executive.
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