Ngaro AlfredHon ALFRED NGARO (National): The last time I spoke in the House the House did rock and it did shake. It came also too from a passionate speech that I made outside to a rally to which a number of people came along to talk about the foundation of this place—that was on 26 May 1854. The very first debate in this House was about whether Parliament should start off with a prayer. I won't go into deliberating that but I wanted to say that for the 2500 people who were out there they were chanting and they were also too wanting to ensure that their voice was heard in this place as well.My debate and my speech takes me back to 1982. One of my favourite singers at that time was actually George Benson and he wrote a song a love ballad called The Greatest Love of All". But as good as George Benson was both on the guitar and in song actually it was Whitney Houston who made the song very famous. It simply said this in the lyrics of the song:I believe the children are our future.Teach them well and let them lead the way.We've had the Hon Tracey Martin who got up at a conference actually just yesterday. I need to commend her because as she stood she said this: "Part of the vision and the desire of this current coalition Government"—this Labour-led Government—"is to ensure that the Government will reform and transform the care and support of children of Oranga Tamariki in New Zealand." I think I'm paraphrasing a bit but the intent was right. That's actually the intent of what was talked about. But I want to say this: the word "Oranga" means "well-being". "Tamariki" actually means not just "children" but is to remind us of the descendancy of the greatness in which children come from. I know that that's the intent.But one has to say this: when one thinks about those words—when we say we believe the children are our future—why is it that a 12-year-old boy from Hastings who was last month charged with aggravated assault escaped the agency's care three times in one week? If we say that we believe the children are our future why is it that a 14-year-old boy with foetal alcohol spectrum disorder was left to roam Dunedin whilst staying in a hotel and was not given the conditions of medication or care to the point where he ended up sleeping in a picture theatre? If we turn around in this place saying "Oranga Tamariki the children are our future." then why is it that a care agency that is now commissioned to play a role to transform and care for children is not doing its job?Now one will turn around and say from the opposite side "Well actually it was the previous Government." There's an old saying that says "Now the shoe is on the other foot". Now we know what that means—in other words it's the reverse effect. I'm not going to leave it here because part of our culture means I won't do that—just to show and to make the point. In other words it's been one year now since that Government has been in power. What it means is this: now the shoe is on the other foot we don't want to hear their excuses of saying "What we inherited" or "What we are planning to do"; we want to know what you are doing. Therefore here's the reality: if you're going to turn up and tell the community that the children are our future then put your actions into words that make a difference.Here's what the community is saying: when we have got a mother who turns around and wants to read the Oranga Tamariki vision statement that's here—and I'll read it out so she can hear it back at home—this is what Oranga Tamariki says: "We put tamariki first. We will challenge when things aren't right for the child." then why is it that this mother of the 12-year-old child went to Oranga Tamariki and asked them for help and here's what they said to her: "By the way your child is not sad enough not bad enough or not mad enough." What sort of care is that for the whānau? What sort of support is that to wrap around this child?When we say that children are our future why is it that of the 6350 children in care the health report from the Ministry of Health has indicated that almost 50 percent of them will have some form over a spectrum of foetal alcohol spectrum disorder? So if that's the concern then we know through the Official Information Act that the Minister actually had that report submitted to her for consideration. I know and I'm sure she's probably going to take the opportunity to speak to that—and I hope she does—to answer these questions. In the report that was actually before the Minister in February of this year it talked about these very issues. It talked about the concerns in which there are gaps in the system. There is a combination of health needs that makes these children vulnerable to poor outcomes.I have to say this: now the responsibility—the shoe—is on the other foot. I want to encourage this community. I actually very much respect the Minister but as the Minister knows what I'm putting forward here is what the community are saying. This is not politicising; this is about being an advocate for the things that are important. When mothers when care professionals when counsellors and when social workers turn around and say "Put your money where your mouth is if you believe that children are our future." then show it with your actions not just your words."