SSPA INC CONFERENCE 2012

VULNERABLE MÄORI YOUTH

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Where are we today? A snapshot NZ’s youth suicide rate is the second highest of 13 OECD countries, both for young males

and young females. The teen pregnancy rate in NZ is the second highest in the OECD.

The financial cost of poor outcomes for children estimated at approximately 3% of GDP ($6 billion) including health, welfare, education, crime and justice, and lower productivity.

In terms of maltreatment, NZ is one of the few OECD countries where the number of children dying from intentional injury has increased since the 1980s - non-accidental death is 4 - 6 times higher than the average of other OECD countries.

Hospital admissions for Mäori under 24 for rheumatic fever were 23 times higher than non-Maori admissions, the rate for bronchiectasis was 5.4 times higher, and 7.6 times higher for chronic rheumatic heart disease.

Young Maori were almost twice as likely to be admitted to hospital for type two diabetes.

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Where does it start?

What are some of the fundamental commencement points?

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Risk factors are conditions or events that temporally precede and increase the likelihood of a range of poor outcomes. These outcomes include learning and behavioural difficulties, substance use disorders, criminal offending and imprisonment, impaired physical and mental health, poor educational outcomes, and reduced employment opportunities. The notion of multifinality suggests that one factor will not lead to the same outcome for every individual. Risk factors operate cumulatively and it is the number of risk factors rather than the presence of a particular risk factor that increases the likelihood of poor outcomes.

www.brainwave.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Brainwave-Trust-Green-Paper-Submission

Brainwave Trust Aotearoa – Submission on green paper for vulnerable children, March 2012

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Emotional neglect has been researched less than other forms of maltreatment, however it can have a greater adverse impact on children’s outcomes than physical abuse or neglect, particularly when it occurs during the first two years of life. It occurs when parents are emotionally unavailable to their child and unresponsive to their emotional and attachment needs, despite perhaps adequately meeting other needs such as nutrition and medical attention. Emotional neglect can occur across the socio-economic spectrum (SES).

www.brainwave.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Brainwave-Trust-Green-Paper-Submission

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The key protective factor involves the child developing a secure attachment to their parent(s) during the early years. The security of this attachment depends upon both the quantity and quality of a parent’s interaction with their child. The security of the child’s attachment can affect their emotional, psychological and cognitive development, with developmental and behavioural problems often having their origins in disturbances of this relationship.

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HOW, IF AT ALL, DOES THIS AFFECT MÄORI AND THE TREATY?

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In the beginning there was the Treaty...Article One

The Chiefs of the Confederation of the United Tribes of New Zealand and the separate and independent Chiefs who have not become members of the confederation cede to her Majesty the Queen of England absolutely and without reservation all the rights and powers of Sovereignty which the said confederations or individual chiefs respectively exercise or possess, or may be supposed to exercise or to possess over their respective territories as the sole sovereigns thereof.

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Article Two

Her Majesty the Queen of England confirms and guarantees to the Chiefs and Tribes of New Zealand and their respective families and individuals thereof the full, exclusive and undisturbed possession of their Lands and Estates, Forests Fisheries and other Properties which they may collectively or individually possess so long as it is their wish and desire to retain the same in their possession, but the Chiefs of the United Tribes and the individual Chiefs yield to Her Majesty the exclusive right of pre-emption over such lands as the proprietors thereof may be disposed to alienate at such prices as may be agreed upon between the respective proprietors and persons appointed by Her Majesty to treat with them in that behalf.

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Article Three

In consideration thereof Her Majesty the Queen of England extends to the Natives of New Zealand Her royal protection and imparts to them all the Rights and Privileges of British subjects.

Textual differences

Sovereignty is defined as “Kawanatanga”

Possession is defined as “tino rangatiratanga”

Properties is defined as “täonga”

No mention of the word “mana”

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Recurring themes and perceptions Never ending Treaty claims, when do they stop? They becoming ludicrous – air,

water, what next?

Non-Maori never get a say before the Tribunal and in any case claims have been settled full and final before why are they being revisited? – Parliamentary sovereignty.

What happened to one law for all? Why is there still special treatment? Decile 1.

There are no real Maoris anyway because of intermarriage – bank hold ups – description of offender – Maori. Not part-Maori.

The “ordinary” Maoris get nothing it’s only the tribal leadership and consultants getting rich. Tribal disconnection of iwi members

Maori social problems are getting worse but none of the settlement funds are helping them - Articles 2-3.

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Treaty settlements are private property rights under Article 2 of the Treaty.

Maori have a right to access health and social service funding under Article 3.

Compensation for public works takings to non Maori is not then used to pay for social and health services unless the recipient consents.

Treaty settlements are relatively insignificant in terms of their ability to meet social demands and their use without consent inappropriate in terms of availability to fund Article 3 Crown obligations.

Many at risk and vulnerable Maori disconnected to tribes in any event and would not know what iwi they connect with.

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Tribal assets are used however for education and social purposes -

Sporting scholarships and grants

Boarding school – interventions - , tertiary and related study fees and costs

Grants for pre and primary schools for texts, trips and equipment as well as extra tuition

Grants for the elderly for health related needs – awareness education for obesity, smoking etc

Support for after school, holiday and outreach programmes

Some basic employment related skills training and initiatives

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A TRIBAL EXAMPLE – NGÄTI AWA, WHAKATÄNE

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TE TOHU O TE ORA O NGÄTI AWA – NGÄTI AWA SOCIAL & HEALTH SERVICES TRUST

RESIDENTIAL SERVICE Maximum boys in home at any one time: 6 aged 12-17 years

Service covers bed-night plus meals

Day to day care is provided to boys in home

A total of 967 bed-nights were used by two CYF offices.

Referrals to the service were for youth who had committed various types of offences

Service is not a prison but is the last stop before being sentenced to a full residential facility or going to jail

TE TOHU O TE ORA O NGÄTI AWA – NGÄTI AWA SOCIAL & HEALTH SERVICES TRUST

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Community Action on Youth & Drugs

Projects that have been worked on include: Working with the Taiwhakaea II Marae Papakāinga to reduce

drugs in their community through education, interventions and positive role modelling.

Project being established in Te Teko as a result of a suicide pact by students attending a local High School – drugs and alcohol were a major factor. Suicide awareness and outreach alternatives through positive peers mentoring programme.

Developing a project focusing on gangs and their role in supplying drugs to youth in schools and the community. Raising awareness and active discouragement through song, rhyme, rap and other audio visual means.

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Youth Prevention / Intervention

Iwi Social Services includes one-on-one preventative / intervention service

Target group is Maori youth aged 10 – 17 years deemed at risk of offending and engaging in anti-social activity

Location covered is Whakatäne and surrounding areas

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Related servicesTe Tohu o Te Ora o Ngäti Awa delivers other services that include youth but are not youth specific including:

Aukati Kai Paipa Iwi Social Services Alcohol & Drug Counselling Asthma Management Service Family Start: in terms of teenage mothers Budgeting education and advice

Incredible Years Parenting Programme

Triple ‘P’ Parenting Programme

Te Pataka Programmes: focused on teaching whänau including teenage parents life skills, how to feed their whänau on a budget, ways to save money

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Allowing initiatives like Whänau Ora adequate time and support to work.

Maori creating Maori initiatives and solutions, rather than having these imposed by an outside group.

This is associated with more likely positive outcomes.

Also gives effect to the Treaty of Waitangi and the principle of partnership, a fundamental need if Maori are to be empowered to create solutions.

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The future

Tuwhiwhia Pryor Aria Rolleston