Hands Off Our Tamariki

In line with an urgent need for transformative systemic change we the undersigned call for the following:
• That the State stop stealing Māori children
• That not one child more be removed by the State from their whakapapa context of whānau, hapū, iwi.
• The affirmation of tino rangatiratanga and the right of Māori to make decision and control the wellbeing of our tamariki and mokopuna
• That the State take responsibility for increasing State abuse of tamariki Māori
• That the current system overseen by the Ministry of Children be overhauled restructured in line with Kaupapa Māori and strengths based approaches that ensure tamariki remain connected to their whānau
• That legislation and policies be co-designed with Iwi/Māori around an honourable Treaty relationship that serves the needs of whānau, hapū, iwi.
• That during the restructuring of the current Ministry of Children that a Māori transition panel be put in place to oversee all of the Ministry’s activities in regards to tamariki Māori
• That Māori define whānau and whakapapa within our tikanga and mātauranga to ensure the wellbeing, connectedness and care of our tamariki
• That decisions regarding the wellbeing of tamariki must be made by whānau, hapū, iwi supported by Iwi and Māori organisations supporting whānau
• That the recommendations of Puao-Te-Ata-Tū be revisited and an in-depth Kaupapa Māori investigation of the Ministry of Children be undertaken by Māori external to the Ministry
• That the State hand over resources to hapū, iwi and Kaupapa Māori organisations to ensure the wellbeing of tamariki Māori
• That successful programmes such as Mātua Whāngai be affirmed and revisited as processes by which to support Māori approaches to the wellbeing of tamariki and mokopuna.
• That a long term commitment be made to support the return of te reo, tikanga and mātauranga Māori to whānau to support wellbeing for current and future generations
• That Māori philosophies such as Te Aho Matua, Whare Tapa Wha, Te Wheke, and other tikanga based models be prioritised in the wellbeing of whānau
• That Whānau Ora be funded to enable the full provision of services for the wellbeing of tamariki and whānau
• That Iwi/Māori and the Crown work in collaboration to create a whole of Aotearoa approach to tamariki and whānau wellbeing