Whānau, Tikanga and Tino Rangatiratanga: What is at stake in the debate over the Ministry for Children?

Abstract

The removal of a Mäori child in May 2019 led to widespread protest and the launch of four inquiries into the Ministry for Children, plus an urgent inquiry through the Waitangi Tribunal. Tamariki Mäori are overrepresented in the child welfare system, but the issues are not just about the system itself. The legacy of colonisation continues to have an impact, not just on individual whänau, but also on the loss of tikanga in relation to whänau. It is the tikanga of whänau that many protesters seek to protect. Furthermore, advocates for reform disagree on the extent to which partnership and biculturalism should be prioritised, or whether selfdetermination should be a minimum prerequisite for change. Understanding this difference of opinion is important because it affects our view of the child welfare system itself. This article explores these issues within the current context, where child welfare issues are a matter of considerable public debate.