Maoris air their views on child care

Press, 12 June 1986, Page 7

Maoris air their views on child care

If Maori people were to take the place of Government Welfare institutions in the care of young Maoris, they should receive funding for it, said a number of Maori representatives at the Rehua Marae on Tuesday evening.

This was one of the main views expressed at a meeting called to discuss the Maatua Whangai (Maori child care) scheme proposed by the Government. The chairman of the meeting, Mr Joe Karetai, said those present felt Maori people should not have to do voluntarily what professionals were being paid for.

“The Christchurch Maatua Whangai team, for example, took 200 Maori kids off the streets last year and saved the taxpayer $30,000 a child (in Social Welfare costs.) From January to March this year 50 kids were taken off the streets and these are fairly conservative estimates,” he said.

About 50 people attended the meeting, in-

eluding representatives from welfare and Maori organisations. Also present was the Maatua Whangai Secretariat team consisting of representatives from the departments of Social Welfare, Maori Affairs and Justice which is touring the country to get Maori views on the proposal. It was suggested that the responsibility for young Maori people, who would otherwise be sent to welfare homes, be given to tribal elders, and a Maori foster scheme established.

Other feelings were that the Maori people should return to traditional famiy and tribal values, and that the Maori kinship should be strengthened before more Maoris went overseas.

“We think the urban lifestyle has destroyed much of Maori thinking and attitudes,” said Mr Karetai. “Maori children are quite often bereft of family and tribe.” Another meeting would be called soon to decide how Christchurch people viewed the new scheme.