Section 7AA of Oranga Tamariki Act must go

I read the June 15, 2024 article on baby Casino’s death in early 2022. It starts off: “WARNING: Distressing content”. I had to read it twice to fully understand the abuse, neglect and final moments of this baby’s life, and the dysfunction of the Ministry for Children, Oranga Tamariki (OT). 

In summary, OT said it could not comment because this could still be subject to a coronial inquiry. Francine, the volunteer caregiver, wanted to know what process OT went through before placing Casino but OT refused to provide anything, citing the Privacy Act. 

OT was not mentioned in media coverage of the trial in which Casino’s uncle was convicted, nor had it taken any accountability, Francine said. 

Francine, who provided a warm, safe home for Casino before she was uplifted, is the only hero in this story. Thank you Francine. 

In my whānau, Pākehā relatives fostered and then adopted four Māori kids. They now have their own families – and yes, they are still aware of who they are. Social Welfare used to send Māori boys to another of my Pākehā whānau (farmers), who guided them into farming, apprenticeships and the military. 

Presently under Section 7AA of the OT Act, all these children would have been uplifted to be placed with Māori whānau. 

Minister for Children Karen Chhour, who is in the process of repealing Section 7AA, said it was introduced to the act five years ago to bring attention to Māori children and encourage them to connect with hapū and their iwi, but said nothing about their safety and wellbeing. 

In her column of May 25, 2024 she said the Opposition had called her a puppet and a sellout, and Te Pāti Māori suggested on social media that she should have been uplifted as a child and raised as the right kind of Māori. 

A Royal Commission of Inquiry has just finished an intensive investigation of child abuse in state care – and here we have the state taking children out of safe foster homes because they are Māori, without enough regard to their safety. 

On behalf of us, I would like to say sorry to baby Casino. 

Eddie Tuhaka