Ngāti Kahungunu is now the fourth iwi in the country to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with Child, Youth and Family (CYF).
It’s an agreement that would see more of the iwi's children rehomed with extended family.
Currently there are 286 children affiliated to Ngāti Kahungunu in CYF's care. There are 162 children located in the central region, Hawke's Bay and Gisborne. 130 children affiliated to Ngāti Kahungunu have been in CYF care for two years or longer.
Reducing these figures is of paramount importance to the iwi, and with more than half of the 5000 children in state care identifying themselves as Māori this partnership could be just the answer.
Ngāti Kahungunu have now joined the ranks of the other three iwi, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Porou and Tainui who are not looking for a quick fix, but the right fix for their children, by signing on the dotted line.