The Wai 2915 Oranga Tamariki Inquiry
Kataraina Jean Te Huia, Wai 2823 claimant and CEO of Nga Māia Māori midwives at the "Hands off our tamariki" protest at parliament. credit: Newsroom.
Te Mata Law was the firm that filed the Urgency Claim before the Waitangi Tribunal that investigated the disproportionate uplift of Māori tamariki by Oranga Tamariki.
Particular issues inquired into were:
The discrimination faced by Māori whānau at the hands of Oranga Tamariki, evidenced by the statistics that showed 60% of children in care are Māori.
The high rate of “without notice” uplifts of Māori tamariki.
The resulting effects on tamariki who are taken into care. The end result being many end up in prison, and later have their own children taken into care.
Te Mata Law filed claims on behalf of Jean Te Huia, head of the Māori midwives association, who gave evidence regarding her experience witnessing discrimination against Māori whānau.
Rex Timu, Hastings Mongrel Mob President, was also a claimant. Rex came to ask for the help of the Crown addressing the issues that gang whānau face. Rex Timu was the first Mongrel Mob President to give evidence before the Tribunal on behalf of the gang.
The Tribunal found that the practices of Oranga Tamariki were a significant breach of the Treaty and it’s principles. The Tribunal recommended that Māori be given authority to recognise rangatiratanga over their kāinga and tamariki, as well as the establishment of an independent Māori Transition Authority.
The Tribunal found that the practices of Oranga Tamariki were a significant breach of the Treaty and it’s principles that Māori be given authority to recognise rangatiratanga over their kainga as well as the establishment of an independent Māori Transition Authority.
See Rex Timu's brief of evidence here.
See Jean Te Huia's brief of evidence here.
The issue around uplifts of pēpi from Māori whānau by Oranga Tamariki became an issue of national importance when a documentary was released by Newsroom that featured Aunty Jean Te Huia and principal lawyer David Stone. You can watch the documentary here.
Te Mata's work on the 2915 claim resulted in a significant drop in the number of children uplifted by Oranga Tamariki. Read an RNZ article about the change in uplifts here.
Rex Timu, Hastings Mongrel Mob president and Wai 2641 claimant with his wife, David Stone, Catherine Leauga, Harry Clatworthy and fellow Mob member Johnny Nepe Apatu at the Wai 2915 hearing at the Waitangi Tribunal Offices in 2020. Both Rex and Johnny gave evidence at the Wai 2915 hearings.
Kataraina Jean Te Huia appearing in the Newsroom documentary on without notice uplifts by Oranga Tamariki. The mother is pictured with her baby who is scheduled for an uplift by Oranga Tamariki at birth. Credit: Newsroom.