The Waitangi Tribunal has released the Oranga Tamariki Urgent Inquiry report

The key issue for this inquiry was whether the Crown has breached Te Tiriti o Waitangi and, if a breach is found, this has resulted in the disproportionately high number of tamariki Māori being brought into State care and protection.

In this report, the Tribunal found that the Crown, through Oranga Tamariki, has breached te Tiriti and that this breach has resulted in significant and ongoing prejudice to Māori.

The Tribunal also found that the Crown’s intrusion into the rangatiratanga over kāinga, alongside colonisation and historical injustice, has caused the disparity in the number of Māori and non-Māori tamariki in care.

A key recommendation arising from the report was the establishment of an independent Māori Transition Authority. This Authority would aim to reform the state care and protection system. This would be done through identifying changes required to remove the need for the State care of tamariki Māori.

The report highlighted the need for the Crown to work in partnership with Māori and provide the necessary support along the way. The Tribunal also emphasised the need for Māori-led transformation of the State care and protection system.