30 Jul 2019

'Hands off our Tamariki' heads to Parliament

From Morning Report, 7:35 am on 30 July 2019

The Acting Prime Minister, Winston Peters, says the government ministry, Oranga Tamariki, is not stealing Māori children.

New Zealanders concerned about the way the state removes Māori children from their whanau are taking their concerns to Parliament.

The 'Hands Off Our Tamariki' network will hand over an open letter to Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson demanding that the State "stop stealing Māori children".

But Mr Peters says Oranga Tamariki are just doing their job, and only remove children if a court orders them to.

Associate Professor Leonie Pihama and Laura O'Connell Rapira from Hands off Our Tamariki Network speak to Corin Dann in Morning Report's studio.