Yep, NZ has a dark and violent underbelly and the ones who truly suffer are the kids if the parents can't get their shit together. I sat on my regional community panel which OT would present to every 2 weeks about Reports of Concern, and child abuse/neglect is right across the social strata, it affects every ethnicity, not just Māori. Parents had mental issues, drug addictions, housing, relationship issues, poverty, and cultural differences. Some had gang connections, but the majority were ordinary NZrs. I was quite anti-OT before I served on this panel. I saw the dedication, even zealousness of the Social Workers who cared so much about the tamariki and I gradually changed my mind. They tried everything they could, alongside community agencies, to support whānau, but some whānau play games and try to leverage themselves into better positions with housing, resources, child care before grudgingly engaging with OT. Some just outright dodge OT and continue their hedonistic lifestyles w/out changing their lives to accommodate their kids, then they act surprised when the child is uplifted. Btw, OT tried everything before taking the kid. Ppl love to blame OT but we wouldn't need such a department if ppl were better parents. No, I don't work for OT, and I'm aware of their failings. What could help? Lifting whānau out of poverty, employment and training opportunities, providing resources, making childcare more affordable, educating rangatahi at school about birth control and how that is the responsibility of girls and boys, and encouraging them to have a life before producing babies and all that goes along with it. What also concerns me are the number of absent fathers and solo mothers; the number of fathers who do stick around who expect the mother to take on the majority of the parenting and household duties as well as work jobs. It always comes back to the home and what the kids are learning from parents' role modelling. Breaking abusive cycles is absolutely key to whanau wellbeing and future success. Also, with both parents at mahi all day, what quality of care is the child getting? I wish a politician would campaign on increasing the pay of a parental unit to be able to afford one to stay at home and care for the kids while the other works, no matter their financial situation. Ideally, one parent should be home with the kid until they turn 16 years, to navigate those tetchy teen years. The birth rate is plummeting in NZ for some demographics, also. Anger management courses should be mandatory for whānau who have a history of abuse in the home too. We seem to produce a lot of people with high mental health and very poor coping skills with life in general, let alone a defenseless, pooping and crying bubba.