Te Kahu o Taonui: First Iwi collective met with Minister of Oranga Tamariki to advocate whānau-led solutions as way forward for mokopuna

MEDIA RELEASE | THURSDAY 20 MĀEHE 2025

Te Tai Tokerau Iwi leaders met with Hon. Karen Chhour, Minister of Oranga Tamariki, at a hui focused on the protection and wellbeing of tamariki and mokopuna. Hosted by Te Kahu o Taonui, the gathering brought together Iwi representatives and Crown officials to address critical issues affecting whānau, with a strong emphasis on whānau-led solutions.

"He taniwha kei te haere mai - he taniwha tae kuhu, tae huna, e kore rawa koutou e kitea, e kore koutou e mohio kua tae mai, kia kitea rāno i ngā kanohi a o mokopuna. Ina tae ki tēnā, kaua e patua i o mokopuna - engari hīpokingia ō koutou mokopuna ki te kahu aroha a te whānau." There is a demon on its way - it is a demon that will arrive stealthily and deviously and you will not see it coming, you will not even know that it's here until you see it in the eyes of your mokopuna. When you do, do not punish your mokopuna - you must wrap your mokopuna in the cloak of love of the Whānau."

At the heart of the discussion was the prophetic wisdom of Aperahama Taonui, of which Te Kahu o Taonui carries his name and vision, which calls for mokopuna to be wrapped in the aroha of their whānau rather than punished when facing hardship. This guiding principle shaped the kōrero, reinforcing the shared commitment to safeguarding future generations.

A key concern raised was the Young Serious Offenders legislation, which poses significant risks for tamariki Māori. In particular, the use of these terms and labelling of rangatahi was highlighted as harmful and known to have negative effects in other jurisdictions across the world. Iwi leaders voiced their strong opposition to punitive measures, calling instead for culturally grounded, whānau-centred approaches to support rangatahi and prevent further harm.

The hui also addressed the ongoing transition towards Iwi-led devolution of care services. While there was strong support for self-determination, concerns were raised about ensuring adequate resources, capability-building, and accountability structures. Access to accurate data from Oranga Tamariki remains a critical issue, with Iwi calling for transparent and equitable sharing of information to enable evidence-based, whānau-driven decision-making while maintaining data sovereignty.

Kotahitanga was a recurring theme, with discussions highlighting the need for equitable partnerships between Iwi and Oranga Tamariki. While some Iwi have Strategic Partnerships in place, others do not, raising concerns about consistent collaboration and fair resource distribution.

Minister Chhour acknowledged the concerns and reaffirmed her commitment to strengthening engagement with Iwi. However, leaders made it clear that meaningful partnership requires more than consultation—it demands structural change and a genuine transfer of power to Iwi.

This hui reinforced the unwavering determination of Tai Tokerau Iwi to lead solutions for their own people. The message was clear: whānau-based, culturally grounded strategies must drive change. Iwi are committed to ensuring their tamariki are supported, not criminalised, and will continue to advocate for the systemic transformation needed to achieve long-term, meaningful outcomes.

ENDS

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MEDIA CONTACT

Merepaea Dunn

E: merepaea@tkot.org.nz

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