Tolley must assure safety of vulnerable clients

new-zealand-labour-party

Fri May 29 2015 12:00:00 GMT+1200 (New Zealand Standard Time)

Tolley must assure safety of vulnerable clients

Friday, 29 May 2015, 1:12 pm
Press Release: New Zealand Labour Party

29 May 2015

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley must guarantee the safety of Relationships Aotearoa’s thousands of Māori clients – some of whom are very vulnerable – following the closure of the nationwide counselling service, Labour’s Māori Development spokesperson Nanaia Mahuta says.

Relationships Aotearoa have 12 qualified Māori counsellors who work with clients including those dealing with abuse and family violence issues.

“Closing the doors on Relationships Aotearoa will create anxiety and stress for clients who don’t know who will pick up their case and be there to help them.

“The range of services offered at Relationships Aotearoa Services means the organisation has counsellors with wide skill sets required to address the range of high-risk needs.
“Support and counselling services for people leaving a violent relationship, couples who have decided to separate or divorce, and families coping with the effects of mental illness require specific support and cannot be reliant on short-term voluntary assistance.

“Relationships Aotearoa’s approximately 2500 Māori clients may also need culturally responsive services. The Minister does not appear to have taken such needs into account in her decision to shut down the service.

“Anne Tolley should be seeking advice on where and how clients will be transitioned to a new service provider in a way that is appropriate to their needs.

“It is critical the Minister gets this right so the closure of Relationships Aotearoa doesn’t leave a gaping and dangerous hole in the lives of the whānau it helps,” Nanaia Mahuta says.
ends

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

a.supporter:hover {background:#EC4438!important;} @media screen and (max-width: 480px) { #byline-block div.byline-block {padding-right:16px;}}

Using Scoop for work?

Scoop is free for personal use, but you’ll need a licence for work use. This is part of our Ethical Paywall and how we fund Scoop. Join today with plans starting from less than $3 per week, plus gain access to exclusive Pro features.

Join Pro Individual Find out more

Find more from New Zealand Labour Party on InfoPages.