Social work graduates ‘not trained to deal with Māori culture’

Lack of cultural training can lead to damaging decisions in child welfare system, says lecturer

New Zealand’s universities are producing social workers who lack adequate cultural training to deal with Māori families, a Massey University academic has said.

Paulè Ruwhiu, a lecturer with the school of social work, told Radio NZ there was a “huge risk” that social work graduates could make damaging decisions because of a poor understanding of Māori culture.