16 Jan 2020

Jean Te Huia's reaction to Children's Commissioner

From Summer Report, 8:21 am on 16 January 2020

New figures from the Children's Commissioner show deep, persistent and increasing inequity in the way Maori newborns are taken from their whanau by the state.

The statistics show Maori babies are five times more likely to be taken into state care than non-Maori babies, and they are more likely to be removed for their whanau by Oranga Tamariki using urgent court orders.

Jean Te Huia was the midwife of the mother whose baby Oranga Tamariki tried to take in Hastings early last year - sparking investigations.

She spoke to Leigh-Marama McLachlan.