Oranga Tamariki not solely to blame for child uplift, says Māori advocate

WATCH HERE: https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/oranga-tamariki-not-solely-

blame-child-uplift-says-m-ori-advocate

Tommy Wilson of Te Tuinga Whanau Services is speaking out because he says families

need to take responsibility and fix the harm caused by addiction which is tearing families

apart.

Mr Wilson says whānau need to take responsibility.

"The taniwha, the elephant in the room for us is P - let's start talking about what happens

if you don't uplift those children and that's the other half of the conversation that's not

been had,” says Mr Wilson.

He says two kilograms of methamphetamine is being consumed in Tauranga every week.

Nationally - more than a tonne a year. He says unless agencies all work together marae

and whānau will continue to be torn apart by P.

In a recent report Oranga Tamariki was slammed for the way it's carried out uplifts.

Tauranga's Happy Puku provides city's vulnerable with 3400 meals since lockdown

WATCH HERE: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/article.cfm?

c_id=1503343&objectid=12356499

The Happy Puku looks after Tauranga's vulnerable and has delivered more than 3400

meals to those in need since the start of lockdown.

Families in transitional housing and vulnerable individuals had been provided with

nutritious food and the much-needed gesture of connection over the last few months.

Established two years ago, The Happy Puku aimed to teach people who had

experienced homelessness how to 'grow a kai, catch a kai and cook a kai'.

It provided opportunities for them to learn skills and enter employment through

professional catering events. They also distributed meals to those in need.