#oranga tamariki

[airandangels]

It’s horrible that this is not really surprising at all.

[holidayvisa]

20 February 2024 - I spent the morning setting up a little baby wall for Maddie on the front porch so that Maddie is free to crawl around on the front porch without being able to get to the stairs. We didn't want her trying to crawl down the stairs when someone wasn't watching and fall down the stairs. So, with Arnie's help, I nailed the baby wall onto the legs of the table that sits out there, and put the other end through the slats of the railing; it was attached at multiple points with no way of pushing through it. Elise picked me up around 11:30. Jimmy and I filled up Elise's tank with the diesel that Jimmy had in a jerry can. Jimmy was so stoked to finally get to meet Elise for real, even though it was a pretty quick meeting. I hopped in Elise's car, and we drove to Piha. On the drive to Piha, I told Elise that I'd had that conversation with Jess the day before, during which Jess asked me to be back by April 1st. Elise said that she'd like for me to stay in New Zealand with her. When we got to Elise's house, Elise made herself some food. She started eating while I started to make myself some food. I cut my thumb with the sharp knife, and Elise gave me some first-aid while I continued to cook. Eventually at 2 pm, Elise had adulting to do. She was leaving for a few days for her women's nationals spearfishing competition in Wellington, and while she and Laura were gone, their landlords were going to stay at their place. I helped vacuum while Elise tidied up the place. At 3 pm, we loaded up the car, and Elise dropped me off at my house on her way to the airport. It was nice to get to spend some time with her before her quick trip to Wellington.

Jisinda, the Oranga Tamariki lady, arrived at our house to meet with Jimmy about Maddie. We'd all spent several hours over the past couple days making the house look good so that we could impress the Oranga Tamariki people. The meeting did not go how Jimmy had hoped, so Jimmy was pretty bummed out for the rest of the day.

I drove the motorbike to Cam's house to pick up the AWOL van. I fueled up the AWOL van and drove it home to my house. I had this moment where I felt like I lived here and belonged here. It was when I was filling up petrol. I was at the petrol station, and as I was filling up, I just looked around and thought to myself, "I'm here, I'm part of something, and this is my life now." I don't know exactly how to describe it. But it was the act of doing this mundane task of filling up petrol that really made me feel like this was my new home. That probably sounds stupid. Maybe I'll be able to explain that feeling better in the future. So anyway, I left the gas station and drove back home. At home, Arnie cooked up some unclaimed mystery pork that was in the bottom of the freezer (and had been since December). I cooked up some frozen veggies (also unclaimed and in the bottom of the freezer). Jimmy, Arnie, and I ate pork chops and veggies together for dinner around the outside table. After dinner, as I washed the dishes, Jimmy came up to me and asked me if everything was okay. I told him what was on my mind - that Elise had said that she wanted me to stay in New Zealand. Elise had said that I need to make the decision, but that she'd like for me to stay. Jimmy and I decided to go on a drive. We drove to the supermarket and bought some shapes and some milk. The whole time, we talked about Elise, about Maddie, about Maddie's mom; we talked about several serious topics. Jimmy told me that I need to follow my heart, not my brain. And I told him that I've never been good at following my heart, and that I've always been good at following my brain. It was really nice to have a heart-to-heart with Jimmy. We have a really good relationship, me and Jimmy. I think we both understand each other and are total softies.

I'm grateful for Elise. I'm grateful for her honesty, confidence, her communication, her straightforwardness. I'm grateful for Jimmy. I'm grateful for his positivity and his unconditional love. I'm grateful for heart-to-heart talks with Jimmy.

[coochiequeens]

Has anyone considered what the impact of having three mothers and still not knowing where half his DNA come is going to have on this kid in the future?

An adoption order has been approved for a little boy with three mothers.

The adoptive mother of the boy, known as Kaspar, is a woman who is unable to have children.

Kaspar’s birth mother is the surrogate mum who carried him in her womb.

Kaspar’s biological mother is an anonymous woman who donated her egg for in-vitro fertilisation.

“Increasingly, this way of being born is becoming common,” Family Court Judge Alayne Wills said in granting the adoption order.

“It will not be unusual for Kaspar, by the age of 12, to be one of a number of children in the same situation.”

Kaspar’s birth story has been recorded in a decision by Judge Wills handed down in 2021 but which has only just been published on a court website.

Under Family Court rules, the people involved cannot be identified, but the court has given them fictitious names for the purposes of publication.

The adoption order was sought by Giselle and Jon Meyer, who brought Kaspar home from hospital when he was four days old.

Jon Meyer is Kaspar’s biological father. Giselle and Jon Meyer are unable to have children of their own together.

A long-standing friend of Jon Meyer, Abigail Lint, offered to be a surrogate mother for the couple.

“That is a gift given to the parents by her,” Judge Wills said.

The surrogate pregnancy was made possible by in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) through Fertility Associates and was approved by the Ethics Committee on Assisted Reproductive Technology, which is appointed by the Minister of Health.

It also required approval from Oranga Tamariki, and a social worker gave the green light for Kaspar to be placed into the Meyers’ care.

The egg used in the IVF process was donated by a woman who wished only to be known as Esme.

Judge Wills said that not knowing his biological mother was “probably not ideal” for Kaspar, but that issue could not be addressed without Esme’s consent.

[septmilleneurones]

With all that said, despite my criticisms about these movies, the next time I see someone who thinks the fact that she needed to be rescued is the problem, I’m going to tell them that “Oranga Tamariki” is Māori for “that isn’t the hole you’re supposed to talk out of”.

I just thought this set of tweets was really important.

[kaiwuzherenz]

ok if ur parents plan on kicking u out at 16, there has to be some government agencies or smth. You live in New Zealand, right?

“If the parents wish the child to leave, they or the young person can contact Oranga Tamariki - the social welfare agency in NZ.  A social Worker will be assigned to the case. If it could not be resolved and the relationship between child and parent has broken down, the young person would not be forced to go back there.

So long as the young person is not in trouble with the law, they would not be put into a foster home against their will with no say in the matter.

An individual plan would be made with and for that young person. It might be a placement with a family member, or a boarding arrangement for example with parents of a friend of the young person, with financial support as I outlined above so they can continue their education.

If the young person had been in trouble with the law, then there may be orders made by the Family Court as to what happens.”

source: https://www.quora.com/At-what-age-can-parents-legally-kick-you-out-of-the-house-in-New-Zealand

idk how accurate it is, but make sure u have money, some place to stay (with a friend or smth) and at least a job.

Thank you, I mean it for trying to help...

I do live in new Zealand and I know a fair bit of these groups....I'm in no trouble with the law, but I'm fine...

The main thing I worry about is that I'll be alone basically, but overall I have work experience, I can get a job in the shearing sheds again as long as I'm not toxic....and I can easily get a steady pay from that...

So it's not money or a job I'm worried about....but thank you anyways <3

[ashadowofburnedoutstardust]

The office of the people tasked with "protecting" the children in this country

Really the headlines speak for themselves

[swldx]

RNZ Pacific 1316 13 Apr 2024

7440Khz 1259 13 APR 2024 - RNZ PACIFIC (NEW ZEALAND) in ENGLISH from RANGITAIKI. SINPO = 55333. English, s/on w/bellbird int. mixed with music until pips and news @1300z anchored by Peter McIlwaine. Six people have been killed in a knife attack at Westfield Bondi Junction shopping centre in Sydney's east on Saturday afternoon, NSW Police say. Five of the victims died at the scene and the sixth died from their injuries in hospital, NSW Police said. Nine people, including a small child, were stabbed by a man in the centre and some are in a critical condition. The offender was shot dead at the scene by a police officer. An urgent Waitangi Tribunal inquiry into the repeal of Treaty of Waitangi commitments within Oranga Tamariki is under way. Evidence submitted to the tribunal on Friday showed repealing Section 7AA, which outlines requirements for agency to improve outcomes for tamariki Māori would elicit strong reaction from Māori. It was also told repealing section 7AA may diminish the unique rights, needs and voices of tamariki Māori. Despite objections from government departments, like Te Puni Kokiri, plans to repeal the act continue. One ticket has won $30 million in tonight's Lotto Powerball draw. The winning ticket was sold on MyLotto to a player from Carterton. @1303z trailer for RNZ "Inside Out" @1304z Weather Forecast: Mostly fine with some isolated showers in the afternoon. @1305z "All Night Programme" anchored by Peter McIlwaine. Backyard gutter antenna, Etón e1XM. 100kW, beamAz 35°, bearing 240°. Received at Plymouth, MN, United States, 12912KM from transmitter at Rangitaiki. Local time: 0759.

[tloaak]

In a rare move, the Waitangi Tribunal has summonsed a sitting minister to explain why she wants to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act. But Crown lawyers are objecting and have said if she is summonsed, they will seek a judical review by the High Court to stop it. Children’s Minister Karen Chhour has been summonsed to explain to the tribunal why she takes issue with 7AA of the act, and why repealing makes more sense than amending, among other questions. The hearing is set for April 26 though Judge Michael Doogan admits in a memorandum on the matter that this is a hypothetical date if the Crown does go to the High Court. Instead, he pleads for the minister to voluntarily come to give evidence. He says that the tribunal hearing needs to be completed before mid-May when the bill change is introduced and the tribunal loses jurisdiction. The plan to scrap section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 is one of the coalition agreements between National and Act. Section 7AA has served as the organisation’s main legal motivator to improve the system for Māori, narrow the gap between Māori and non-Māori children’s experiences in state care, collaborate with iwi, and ensure mana tamaiti, whakapapa, and whanaungatanga are reflected in their policies and practices. But the Crown argued against the summons, with its lawyers saying that compelling a sitting minister to attend or provide a written statement “is against both authority and constitutional practice and principle.” [...] Section 7AA was introduced following the reform proposals of 2015, which Oranga Tamariki was born out of. It outlines a series of obligations Oranga Tamariki has to tamariki and rangatahi Māori, as well as wider whānau, and is the main legal mechanism to acknowledge the Crown’s duties to uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi in state care. It was the first time Te Tiriti o Waitangi had been mentioned in Aotearoa’s child protection laws. Questions remain over the efficacy of this section though, following the highly-publicised 2019 uplift of a child in Hawke’s Bay [link inserted by me], an incident that thrust s7AA into the public eye.

[thxnews]

Empowering Vulnerable Children: Oranga Tamariki Action Plan

  Uniting for a Common Purpose: The Oranga Tamariki Action Plan

In its inaugural year, the Oranga Tamariki Action Plan has already made a significant impact, bringing together various children's agencies to prioritize the welfare of those in greatest need. Chief Executives from Oranga Tamariki, the Police, and the Ministries of Education, Social Development, Health, and Justice have collaborated to achieve better outcomes for children and young people in care.   A Collaborative Effort: Contributions from Diverse Agencies Beyond children's agencies, several others, including the Department of Corrections and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, have contributed to this collective endeavor. Kelvin Davis, a strong advocate for the approach, emphasized the importance of working together with the community to provide comprehensive support, thereby preventing children from entering state care.  

Tangible Impacts: Positive Outcomes in Families' Lives

The Oranga Tamariki Action Plan has yielded tangible results, enhancing the lives of families in various ways. For instance, the collaboration between Oranga Tamariki and Kāinga Ora has increased the availability of homes for disabled children in need of intensive support. Furthermore, a new data system developed jointly by Te Whatu Ora and Oranga Tamariki has facilitated smooth healthcare transitions for children in Oranga Tamariki residences.   Enhancing Support: Partnerships Lead to Notable Initiatives The partnership between agencies has sparked noteworthy initiatives, such as the introduction of senior social worker liaison roles at Starship's acute mental health unit. Following a successful trial, these roles will also be introduced in Wellington and Canterbury.  

Empowering Frontline Workers: A Long-Awaited Approach

Frontline social workers have expressed long-standing support for this collaborative approach, and Minister Kelvin Davis acknowledged the fulfillment of their aspirations. While the foundations are now in place, Davis emphasized that the work has just begun, and he looks forward to rapid progress in the days ahead.   Sources: THX News & New Zealand Government. Read the full article

[airandangels]

“One of the 10 teenagers in the Government’s military-style bootcamp trial has died in an accident while another is currently on the run after attending his funeral.”

Oranga Tamariki has since confirmed that in fact two of the ten are now unaccounted for. What a stupid, pointless shitshow.

[isedoraklopper]

Parental Alienation Shame

I have wanted to write about another experience that has come very strongly in the last year of my life again. It’s a long story so bear with me. While I was working in alternative education, my students were often high needs. Meaning they come from what society consider to be the less favourable family environments.

What that meant is that I was never just teaching, I had to be able to provide pastoral care, counselling and even sometimes parenting skills came into play. All because often the ones sitting my class had come from the child protective services (CYFS/OT and all their supplementary services) and had been in their care for decades. Some had also been in the care of the youth justice system, these students often already in the system since they were children.

What I encountered however is youth who in the process of my course would become old enough for that system (child protective services) to no longer be applicable, as in they become adults. They were given a file, a pat on the back and a wave as they left the service. A great deal number of things would happen to these youth in the next few days and month that I was privy to, as I was outside of the family and it cost them nothing to have me listen and support them. Firstly, all support they had previously received from services ceased immediately.

What I learnt is that out every twenty students I met, that most (at least 15 at times) had experienced child protective services at the time. Of those who were in the child protective services at the time, probably only a handful (maybe four or five) had good reasons for being there with histories of gangs, drugs, abuse of all kinds and violence. That does not mean that I did not have to then sit with those students either, but it was a reality call for them that was pretty damn rough.

The next came the cases that really shook me to core. The cases where the youth would sit in front of me with a file and be totally confuses and perplexed about what they were reading. Confounded with messages they had received from the family they had lived with because of this whole process. What they had in the files were stories or accusations made toward one parent, and just about all manner of accusations and stories. They had by now been living with other family members which included the other parent who had told them more stories about how bad that parent was.

My students would sit in front of me perplexed and lost, because they did not remember any of what was said about that parent. What was said is also not what others have said, or the family have told them stories that created a deep sense of rejection, isolation or that were just painful. At the time I did not have words to help, but I had a listening ear. So, I would work with students to recognise and accept their own memories, as well as learn to trust themselves in their own decisions.

In all of the occasions (there were more than I care to say), they would then go about re – establishing a connection with the so-called bad parent only to discover more stories, accusation and to then find the rest of their family angry at them. As young adults it was difficult for them, their first greatest decisions were what to do next. I will not speak to some of the other things I saw happen because of this, as its pretty serious. I can say that often the parent who had been cut out of their lives take a place back in it. My students often being hurt, angry and frustrated with the stories, sometime going as far as to cut the other family from their lives. I had more than one student come to me angry, that their estranged parent had offered great support, but they had been rejected by the other family.

What I did at the end of all these processes was reflect and go back over what I had learnt, as I always do. I discovered that there is a pattern. It begins parents who fall in love and have children then split or have family who are overly involved their parenting. I only ever encountered one youth whose parents had not planned for him and treated him much that way, all other students were very loved. However, a split in the relationships meant a feud over where their kids go. It is amazing how parents turn on each other, it was in my students lives pretty even between the genders in the slinging of mud. Sometimes the dad was saying the mum was not good, and other times it was the mum saying dad was not good. If by some miracle the parents were okay, then other family members were involved, their grandparents or aunties who thought their kids could not parent their own kids and just got too involved. The scary part was the frightening amount of solo dads and mums who had been caught in this, who had not been in  the relationship with the father or mother but made to sound as if they had intentionally cut them out.

What usually happened is someone decided the other could not parent and then involved the protective services. Alarmingly, none of the cases I had seen in this instance actually had any decent evidence to back up any accusations. The files were messy, unorganised and looked like a toddler had taken crayons to the file. Dates were also often completely messed up. However, investigations were made, and eventually the courts became involved which actually made it worse. Even less evidence was ever produced, but it all just steam rolled on right ahead and ensure that these children were placed somewhere else. Whether there was truth or not to any accusations.

Though most of what was share with me confidentially was redacted files, but it can be clearly seen that often the investigations lead nowhere, the files were just never closed and instead became a further filth for some parents to be smeared with. It was harrowing to see the destruction it had on the students in front of me, who as young adults came face to face with lies, accusation and also some pretty angry family members. Some having experienced worse things than had they had stayed with the original parent or if their parents had gotten along, or the family had just butted out.  

The most important thing I noticed, once they had worked through their own memories, ideas, trusting themselves and what they wanted. They always re – established contact with that parent, even if it cost them the other family members, who were quick to pile on the dirt, or even phone me as their tutor to try and convince me to bring them back around to their thinking. It is also important to know that these young adults often were not bad kids, they may have had to grow an attitude and thick skins, but were still just kids. However, the involvement in these cases of child protective services and the family courts caused almost irreparable damage, most of these young adults did not complete their education and could not until it was sorted.

Again, there are a handful of cases where the files were correct and showed clear reasons for the young adult to have been in the system, and these youth adults were a completely different ball game when it came to be supporting them. I had these cases in my classes for years, and then not even a year ago because of a personal encounter I came across something called parental alienation. It was a term coined roughly in the 1980’s by a psychiatrist called Richard Gardner, which has over the decades had lots and lots of controversy surrounding it. Mostly because research has been few and far between.

Parental alienation however rang some major bells.  Parental alienation happens when a child is made to believe that a parent or the other parent is bad. It requires a fair amount of manipulation, brainwashing and psychological abuse that is very damaging which happens over a long period of time. It is where parents talk about having had a close relationship that safe and healthy with their kids, and then suddenly their kids don’t want to see them, or they say things that are out of character for them.  It is done behind closed doors and because there is some controversy behind it, is also easily dismissed.  Some parents becoming alienated from their children for decades, though they all eventually return to one another.  

I realised that I had been in the presence of this for the whole time. I can also say that it is very real and very painful for all involved, worse so for the child who later discovers the truth and then have to figure it out. I realised that parents who are going through or have gone through the process with child protective services are often made to be ashamed, even if there is no reason to be ashamed. It is not talked about; parental alienation is not talked about. It seems to be believed that it is often mothers who do it to fathers, but I had encountered equally as many fathers who are guilty of this too.

Though I had recently had another level added to the whole process while supporting my partner with her battle. We are in a same sex relationship and though I had given my full support, I was told it was not appropriate for me to be involved. Though not one will outwardly state why, I have an odd sensation I know why. On a personal level I have now encountered what my youth had explained to me. The stories and accusations, even though the file says nothing of use and all of which had already been discredited. The dancing around questions and literally being avoided by all the professionals involved while a case was built of false accusations and information more than ten years old.

This time I am sitting in live action and watching the parental alienation take hold. I am watching the devastating affect it has on my partner, and the sadness in her son’s eyes when they do get some time together.  I have also found the way others view it as ridiculous, how quick everyone is to assume the worst or think that there has to be a reason. How there is this crazy shame attached to going through this, and yet it is a fairly frequent experience, more than more realise, especially with the divorce rate of New Zealand. We have a situation where there is a legal system in place that alienates children and parents, and almost legally allows kidnapping.

[cathnews]

Teachers not trained to spot child abuse, reporting optional

Teachers not trained to spot child abuse, reporting optional

Teachers and childcare staff aren’t taught how to spot child abuse. If they suspect – or even know – a child is being abused, it’s up to them to decide if they’ll pass on their fears to agencies. Both these things have to change, say child advocacy campaigners. They want teachers and daycare staff to get compulsory training so they can spot abuse. They also want the Children’s Act to sharpen up,…

[yeltsinsstar]

Oranga Tamariki boss makes stunning concession of 'structural racism' to Waitangi Tribunal

[pappito]

9 napja kempingeznek a parlament előtt a tiltakozók, bár egyre átláthatatlanabb, hogy mi ellen tiltakozik a jelenlevők melyik része. Ide érkezett az a konvoly ami a kanadai mintájára formálódott, de úgy tűnik mire elért a fővárosba, boldog-boldogtalan csatlakozott, akinek volt valami tiltakoznivalója. Van antivakcinás, van aki trump2024 zászlót lenget, van aki a kötelező maszkhordás ellen, (a munkáltató megkövetelheti a vakcina passportot) de van aki a gyerekügyi minisztert akarja lemondatni az oranga tamariki éléről, de nem hiányoznak a maori szeparatisták, és mindenféle válogatott összeesküvés elméletek hívei sem. Ja és persze az egyik legnépszerűbb újkeresztény szekta hívai is ott vannak, akiknek a főnökét becsukták a böribe korábban - az egyházától meg a saját balfaszsága miatt tegnap vonta meg az állam a charitable státuszt - nem teljesítettek valami bevallási kötelezettségeket.

szóvivője nincs az egésznek, de úgy látszik nem is könnyű ilyet találni, tekintve, hogy mennyien mennyi minden külön dolog ellen tiltakoznak, bár abban egyetértenek, hogy így vagy úgy, de kormányzat kurva anyját.

a parlament (ha jól értettem akkor ahol a sátrakat felverték az a parlament területe) eddig annyit csinált, hogy rájuk nyitotta az öntözőrendszert, bár ez nem nagyon hatotta meg a népet, tekintve, hogy vagy három-négy napig amúgy is szakadt az eső. a rendőrség ott van meg csomó további rendőrt odaküldtek, de egyelőre parkolási bírságokat osztanak a 400+ szanaszét hagyott, jobbára illegálban parkoló autónak. Tegnap óta fenyegetőznek, hogy elvontatják az összeset a picsába, (miután felajánlották a tüntetőknek, hogy a közeli stadionban parkolhatnak ingyen de ez nem kellett a tiltakozóknak) de az sem egyszerű, mert a vontatókat üzemeltető cégek nem nagyon akarnak odamenni és elvinni a kocsikat - félnek, hogy a kedves tüntetők elverik őket vagy megrongálják a kocsikat (a tiltakozók már felhivogattak autómetős cégeket mindenféle retorzióval fenyegetőzve, ha odamennek dolgozni) Erőszak nem nagyon volt, pár napig bazi hangosan tolták valami hangrendszerről a macarenát, az mondjuk nem volt szép.

Ma megjelent 4 katonai csapatszállító autó is, de a katonák bevetéséhez valami külön döntés kell, ami még nem született meg és nem is biztos, hogy velük takaríttatják ki a teret, a rendőrség meg az NZDF egyeztetget.

a környéken bezártak az üzletek, mert nem lehet közlekedni és a tiltakozók fenyegetik a maszkot viselőket akik oda mentek volna vásárolni vagy ügyeket intézni, őket meg nem engedték be a boltokba amúgy se mert nincs vakcina passportjuk. Úgyhogy a bizniszek mennek tönkre és a környékbeli lakásokban se jó lakni mostanság a zaj meg az ellehetetlenített közlekedés meg a szétbaszott közterület miatt.

párszáz és 3ezer között ingadozik a hetijegyes fesztiválozók száma, sokan vannak kinn családdal, gyerekkel, kutyával, kaptak mobilvécéket, hogy ne szarják össze a gyepet meg leeresztették a molesworth utcai szökőkutat, mert abban fürödtek a népek. ott van ilyen átabotában összerakott elsősegély hely is a tüntetőknek.

hát így állunk

[ashadowofburnedoutstardust]

While I am mostly going to be posting about Te Reo this coming week, I am also going to be sharing a few stories about police interaction with both Maori and pacific peoples in this country, as well as the tendency for Oranga Tamariki's tendency to target groups of specific descent when "uplifting" children from their parents

New Zealand is far from a perfect place for everyone to live

The wages are lower, the cost of living is higher, and unfortunately despite much greenwashing is not the clean green place it claims to be with a lot of veiled racism rife within its walls

Take it from a local

[nickandros]

finally watched that documentary about oranga tamariki and cried through the entire thing. what a genuinely evil organisation.