Associate Minister for Accident Compensation, Willie Jackson, is calling on Māori leaders to apologise to Children’s Minister Tracey Martin.
Ms Martin has come under sustained fire from a group of senior Māori women over Oranga Tamariki’s uplift of babies.
On Friday she unveiled a new $42 million contract with the Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency, funded by Oranga Tamariki, Te Puni Kōkiri and the ACC, which will develop early intervention systems so stressed whānau can be supported before major problems arise.
Mr Jackson says it’s something she has been working on since December when he took her to meet Waipareira head John Tamihere and his kaimahi.
“I think people like Naida Glavish, Merepeka Raukawa Tait, Tariana Turia should apologise to her. John never called her a racist but they did and I’m sick and tired of their allegations against a Pākehā woman who has been advocating strongly for us in that space,” he says.
Mr Jackson says the new framework is one he and Mr Tamihere have been trying to get supported for 20 years since they were in parliament together.
https://www.waateanews.com/waateanews/x_news/MjU2NTU/Martin-moves-agenda-forward-despite-dames
