3. Question No. 3—ChildrenDr SHANE RETI (Deputy Leader—National) to the Minister for ChildrenQuestion No. 3—Children3. Dr SHANE RETI (Deputy Leader—National) to the Minister for Children: Does he stand by his statement that The report from the Waitangi Tribunal aligns very closely with the direction I have given Oranga Tamariki"; if so what if any are the outcome measures for success for that direction?Hon POTO WILLIAMS (Associate Minister for Children) on behalf of the Minister for Children: Yes. The direction I have given Oranga Tamariki is that they must focus on enhancing relationships with whānau and Māori embedding professional social work practices developing a positive culture and starting to entrust funding and decision making to Māori and to people on the ground in our regions. I expect that once I receive the report from my independent ministerial advisory board we will have time to fully consider the recommendations of the Waitangi Tribunal we will put in place a plan based on my direction and I intend that plan to include measures for success.Dr Shane Reti: Is he committed to establishing a Māori transition authority for the protection of children as recommended by the Waitangi Tribunal?Hon POTO WILLIAMS: On behalf of the Minister I have committed to consider all the recommendations in the Waitangi Tribunal report. In regards to a transition authority I believe support for the transition will need to be required but think there is a better way to provide that support than the entity suggested in that report. Dr Shane Reti: Does he agree that the State has an obligation to remove children from harmful environments albeit as a last resort and will his direction change that?Hon POTO WILLIAMS: On behalf of the Minister I believe the Government has a responsibility to care for and protect our most vulnerable children and the very serious responsibility which is removing a child from their family is one the Government must retain.Dr Shane Reti: To what degree will any Māori transition authority be required to account for the needs of non-Māori children in State care?Hon POTO WILLIAMS: That will be a decision that's made once the work of the ministerial advisory board has been received and decisions will be made from that point.Dr Shane Reti: When he said he was considering compensating parents who had had their children removed by Oranga Tamariki what criteria is he considering for compensating those parents?Hon POTO WILLIAMS: I don't have that information to hand. If the member would like to put that in writing I will ensure the office gets back to him with an answer.Dr Shane Reti: What is one measurable outcome of success for any Māori transition authority that the Government will hold itself accountable for in the first year of establishment?Hon POTO WILLIAMS: While we're waiting for the advisory board to make its recommendations to this Government can I say one thing: that any uplift any child in danger is a failure of our system to protect that child and that this Government will do everything it can to improve the situation at Oranga Tamariki a situation that was started—Oranga Tamariki cannot be in the same condition as the previous Government has left it in."