Organisers Anton Black, Paora Maxwell and Ella Henry in Otara. Photo / Glenn Jeffrey
High-profile Maori are establishing a trust to attack horrific child abuse rates.
Former High Court judge Eddie Durie, Maori Television's Ella Henry, anti-family violence advocate Merepeka Raukawa-Tait, television producer Paora Maxwell and Donna Awatere-Huata are some of those working to set up Te Kahui Manaaki Tamariki. The group
will work at a strategic level acting as a think tank, developing policy and advocating for service providers.
Mr Maxwell said the group's ethos was simple.
"Every day the media bombards us with stories about children being abused or dying at the hands of someone in their family. We hear and read the reports that say that Maori children are five times more likely to be killed than non-Maori and it's so easy to literally turn off and say: 'What can I do? It's too hard.' We're putting our hands up."
Ask Your Auntie's Ella Henry used to work for Plunket, which was where she became aware of the problems facing children.
Twenty years ago the child homicide rates for Maori and Pakeha children were comparable.
Ms Henry said Government reforms which saw huge job losses by Maori in the 1980s and the 1991 Budget cuts to welfare started a pressure pattern on families; add the methamphetamine or P epidemic, poverty and other socioeconomic factors and the situation for families was combustible, she said.
"You put those factors together and you've got a really toxic combination."
Part of the solution for improving statistics would be more targeted services for Maori.
Mrs Raukawa-Tait said Maori needed a group that could respond when tragic events occurred - as they were often attacked in the media.
"There are people, usually Pakeha, who really don't know what they're talking about. They see a tragic incident and condemn Maori families en masse.
"How should Maori respond? Usually, we respond by being terribly shamed - that is the time to come forward."
Members will support a summit organised by veteran activist and Anglican minister Dr Hone Kaa next month before beginning fundraising.
