MEDIA RELEASE – FRIDAY 23 APRIL 2021 2.00PM

Oranga Tamariki and Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi join forces to support tamariki

Keeping tamariki with whānau and improving the health and wellbeing of Ngāti Kahungunu whānau,

hapū and iwi is the aim of a new official agreement with Oranga Tamariki.

A strategic partnership was signed this afternoon by Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated Chief

Executive Ms. Chrissie Hape and Oranga Tamariki Chief Executive Sir Wira Gardiner.

“We are pleased to continue to evolve kaupapa that supports whānau development and we reiterate

our intent to work with all government agencies collegially and challengingly to ensure we get the best

results for whānau” says Ngahiwi Tomoana, Chairman, Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated.

Children’s Minister Hon. Kelvin Davis was present for the signing of the official document at Ngāti

Kahungunu offices in Hastings.

“The visit from Minister Kelvin Davis today adds a greater dimension to that relationship and reaches

further to achieve the dreams for whānau vibrancy and whānau rangatiratanga over their own lives”.

Tomoana said.

The official agreement with Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated is the ninth strategic partnership for

Oranga Tamariki says Chief Executive Sir Wira Gardiner.

“While we commit to this agreement today, we continue to build on the partnership gains that can

only be realised through practice on the ground,” Sir Wira said.

Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated Chief Executive, Chrissie Hape said, “supporting whānau to be the

best that they can be is the focus for the Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi. The agreement today signals the

commitment and willingness of both partners to put into effect what is needed for Ngāti Kahungunu

mokopuna and their whānau to flourish and give life to the aspirations expressed in our moteatea

Pinepine te Kura; wāhine purotu tane purotu; which underpins everything we do. We recognise that

this will require significant change to policies, planning and service delivery not only within Oranga

Tamariki but across Central government and we are ready for the challenge”

MEDIA RELEASE 9th MAY 2019

Government kidnapping babies from the womb is atrocious

An appalling situation has occurred yet again. Our babies are being taken from their mothers soon after

birth as a way to protect the child from unsafe circumstances. Māori liaison workers are compromised as

this form of ‘wellbeing for the baby only’ goes against cultural practices of caring for the mother and her

child.

Today, midwives, community leaders and representatives from the Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Te Wero group

met to discuss concerns and a way forward.

“We will not sit on the side and watch this nonsense”

“Not one more child! Not one more baby will be taken or torn away or kidnapped”

“We will use our political influence and our networks to intervene at every step, every stage and for

every child, to ensure that the cultural practices and values are upheld at all times”

“The states response at these times needs to take a back seat and kidnapping babies from the womb

needs to stop now”

We are thankful that whānau and the police showed good sense throughout this attempted baby snatching

episode. It gave time for the Hawke’s Bay District Health Board Māori Unit to resolve the situation through

putting into place our cultural belief practices.

We would like to meet with Minister Tracey Martin to ensure we find a positive way forward forever.

Ngahiwi Tomoana – Chairman,

MEDIA RELEASE 16TH JUNE 2019

Unite in our efforts to support whanau

Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated (NKII) leaders are pleased to have met today with Ministers Martin, Davis

and Mahuta to find solutions to the incident that occurred on the 1st May 2019. Minister Martin has agreed

to conduct an inquiry into the specific incident with the support of whānau. Minister Martin is also keen to

work with NKII by meeting on a regular basis to review collective progress and apply improvements to

current practices to prevent the likelihood of this occurring again.

Iwi, hapū, whānau, practitioners, government agencies, including Whānau Ora, Corrections, Te Puni Kōkiri,

Ministry of Social Development and others, must unite in our efforts to support whānau. The health and

wellbeing of our whānau, hapū, iwi is paramount and Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated is committed to

ensuring that that we represent the health and cultural wellness of our whānau at all times. Whakapapa is

sacred and it is our intention to keep our whānau together where possible.

The ‘Kōrero Mai Whānau’ project commenced this past week and many whānau members have come

forward with their stories. If you would like to tell your story, please contact our office. Details below.

Ngahiwi Tomoana – Chairman, 0275483152

Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated

PO Box 2406, Hastings, 4153

If you have any questions about KŌRERO MAI WHĀNAU please make contact.

Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated: Tracee Te Huia - Mobile: 027 4497 306 or landline 06 8243422 Email:

tracee@kahungunu.iwi.nz