Larry Williams Drive

A bitter end to a custody fight over a Maori child, whose Pakeha foster family has given up an ongoing legal battle. Stuff reports Oranga Tamariki three times took the girl, nicknamed Moana, before she was three before putting her with the couple. After four years, Oranga Tamariki then placed her with a Wellington Maori family, saying the couple couldn't meet her 'cultural needs'. Whanau Ora Commissioning Agency chair, Merepeka Ruakawa-Tait, says it's unbelievable. "This wonderful family, they provided for her emotional needs, her health and educational needs. And yes, they mightn't have been able to apply for her cultural needs, but with the family support, they could have done that." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.