A Wellington judge has applied a new law to return a child to their whānau after a long custody battle with Oranga Tamariki.
Section 7AA, part of the changes to the Oranga Tamariki Act that kicked in at the start of this month, ensures the Ministry must commit to its Treaty obligations and prioritise the whakapapa of children in their care.
But it hasn't been a straight-forward process for the family, who have missed out on the first six months of the baby's life because of what they call an unnecessary and drawn out process.
RNZ's Māni Dunlop was in court.
