The Bill repeals section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989. The intention of the Bill is to enable Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children to renew its focus on the safety and well-being of children in care arrangements.
The Government is concerned that the introduction of section 7AA has led Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children staff to prioritise cultural factors over the safety and stability of children in long-term care arrangements. Concerns have been raised that Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children has moved tamariki Māori from stable long-term care arrangements and placed them with whānau, hapū, and iwi groups to which they whakapapa.
