New Zealand rocked by Māori protests on child removals and use of sacred land

Jacinda Ardern criticised for absence during protests over removal of Māori children and construction on sacred land

New Zealand has been beset by two major protests held by Māori leaders, straining relations with the Labour government and drawing accusations that Jacinda Ardern – who is visiting the remote Pacific territory of Tokelau – is a “part-time prime minister”.

On Tuesday, hundreds of activists marched on parliament house in Wellington, as well as other New Zealand cities, calling for an overhaul of the government’s child welfare agency, Oranga Tamariki [Ministry for Children], amidst a series of controversial cases in which Māori children and newborns were taken into state care.

Continue reading...

from World news | The Guardian https://ift.tt/2ZoaOvg