Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

Oranga Tamariki is being told it needs to find staff who are up to the job.A whistleblower has released footage taken at a secure residence.It shows staff tackling a boy and twisting his arms behind his back, and putting another into a headlock before throwing him to the ground.Whanau Ora chair Merepeka Raukawa-Tait told Kate Hawkesby children in Oranga Tamariki care have complex needs, requiring staff who understand behaviour, trauma and the brain.“We don’t hire for the skills required and the level of skills required. What I saw there could have been de-escalated.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today is the last possible day for the government to release the next set of its three year targets for child poverty reduction.But despite some fighting words from the Labour government in tackling child poverty, there is word it will be a press release and that there will be no major changes to targets.Jacqui Southey, the Advocacy and Research Director at Save the Children told Kate Hawkesby children can’t afford to wait for the help they need.“Our children need to live good lives now, and that means not living in poverty.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.