Story: Youth offenders

Puao-te-ata-tu report

Puao-te-ata-tu (day break) was a report published in 1988 by an advisory group which investigated the treatment of Māori by the Department of Social Welfare. The group found that a culture of racism within the department contributed to the high number of Māori children and young people placed in state care for minor misdemeanours. Parts of the Children, Young Persons and their Families Act 1989 (renamed the Oranga Tamariki Act in 2017) were influenced by Puao-te-ata-tu.

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How to cite this page:

Gabrielle Maxwell, 'Youth offenders - Treatment of young offenders, 1840 to 1980s', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/video/26599/puao-te-ata-tu-report (accessed 13 May 2024)

Story by Gabrielle Maxwell, published 5 May 2011, updated 1 Aug 2017