Children’s Minister Karen Chhour.
Photo: RNZ / SAMUEL RILLSTONE
The legislation that removes the provisions of the Tamariki Orange Law approved its third and last reading in Parliament after a heated debate.
The coalition has long promised to revoke the 7aa section, which connects the Oranga Tamariki to the Treaty of Waitangi Principles and requires him to work in partnership with IWI and Hapū, reporting regularly about how it is.
The third reading began on Wednesday and children’s minister Karen Chhour said “she was pleased to lead this bill in her final phase in the house.”
She said she was proud to ensure that the “system we trust as a nation to take good care of vulnerable children and young people focus on safety and good -above all.”
Chhour said the 7aa section was “well intended,” but “resulted in children being placed second.”
She provided context for why she believed the project was needed.
“I stayed in front of you and in this house several times to share stories of Orange Caregivers and Oranga Tamariki and people who deal with Orante Tamariki, whose experience pointed out that the 7aa section of the law was misused and potentially put the children in danger.
“We can no longer accept or excuse it. We can no longer deny that section 7aa has led to confusion and conflict in a system that can not afford to understand a crucial assistance decision.”
She said the project does not deny the “importance of cultural connections for children,” but security needed to come first “every time”.
“The lives of these children are not lived in theories or in the comfort of the gym or privilege. The damage that arises on its way is not academic; it is real.
“That’s why I don’t apologize for revoking section 7AA of the law to remove any confusion for people on the ground to make decisions daily to keep children and young people safely.”
Work spokesman for children Willow-Jean Prime.
Photo: RNZ / SAMUEL RILLSTONE
Labour spokesman for children, Willow-Jean Prime said next and said there was no evidence to support the change and no appointments about it.
“Let the record show that political ideology has boosted this revocation and that vulnerable maori children will be those who will pay the price.
“Let the show show – let the history books show – these tamariki that could be the object of a future real commission of abuse in state care, because that is the kind of thing that the real commission we recently asked and reported.”
Prime pointed to Oranga Tamariki noting that there was no “empirical evidence to support the notion that section 7aa led the practical decisions that led to the change of care agreements.”
“Her own employees telling her that there is no empirical evidence to support the cases she is using to justify this case. The closed mind doesn’t care, never cares from the beginning.”
The third reading continued on Thursday. NZ First’s Tanya Unkovich spoke of his time on the selected committee, considering the project.
“It was an emotional moment to sit down – I’m not ashamed to say that.
“During the shipping process, there were several things summarized by employees, and the topics summed up these submissions were well -being and security, treaty obligations, evidence, legislation and practice, equality and equity.”
Carlos Cheung, from National, pointed out the differences between the parties.
“I think we hear many different speeches from different parts.
“Obviously, none of us agree with each other, but I think there is one thing we all agree with throughout the house: we are here to fight for the best interest of our children – to our children of care.”
Greens Ricardo Menendez March called the “dog whistle” law that “intends to attack the tamariki maori and not pay attention to the bridge that was created by the crown that led to so many tamariki maori to be divided and separated from the communities to which they belong.”
Te pāti maori mp mariameno kapa-kingi.
Photo: VNP / Phil Smith
Mariameno Kapa-Kingi, by Pāti Maori, condemned the project, calling it “Oranga Tamariki (revocation of culture, revocation of custom, revocation of security and revoke the protection and prosperity bill)”.
Kapa-Kingi referenced the story of babies being removed by “colonial hands.”
“The justification for this to save a maori baby from the so -called evils of pā, the evils of our people. This is yours and our shared history.”
She said the act set the tone for generations and was summed up “a simple term: elevation.”
“A word coined by the colonizer to mask his statutory acting act.”
Kapa-Kingi said he had chosen to take the “very personal” account.
“I challenge all the maori of this drag and all the maori and part maori … this is responsible for and for Mokopuna Tamariki Maori, to check their privilege, check their fragility, check their tears, to check their racism and check their sexism and misonhase
“That’s what happens when you internalize racism and thank the oppressor for the experience.”
The project went from 68 to 54 with the support of the three parties of the coalition.
Te Pāti Maori has now asked the Governor General to retain the “consent royal” of the bill.
The next step in the legislation process is for the governor general to grant real consent, which means that the bill has the approval of the King – Chief of Staff of New Zealand.
Te Pāti Maori wrote to Cindy Kiro, who is the representative of the sovereign, and said that the project would represent a “fundamental violation of Te Tirita the Waitangi if approved”.
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