Maharey will summon Children's Commissioner

Social Services Minister Steve Maharey will summon Children's Commissioner Roger McClay to discuss "confusing messages" over the latter's claims that he was pressured by Maori ministers.

Mr McClay said on Tuesday that he was pressured into removing statistics showing Maori in a poor light from his report into the death of Hastings toddler James Whakaruru.

However, his office said the changes to the report had been made after "extensive discussions" with Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia and associate Tariana Turia, but the result was "positive."

"I have to have a conversation with Roger McClay about what is going on, as there seem to be some very confusing messages," Mr Maharey said yesterday.

Mr McClay, a former National Party MP, was "not a new boy on the block," and should decide what was in a report.

"My view is he's an independent person," said Mr Maharey.

"He's got to be an advocate for children, so I would expect him to make his own decision on the report and what is in it."

Mr Maharey would also discuss the issue with Mrs Turia and Mr Horomia, to find out what had occurred.

Mr McClay said yesterday that he agreed to the changes so that an argument would not overshadow the thrust of the report.

"She [Mrs Turia] was going down the track of ... telling me it was all the fault of the Treaty of Waitangi that these children have been killed.

"I pulled my head in because I did not want to have a row about it."

Mrs Turia has said that she objected to the statistics because they were not given in the context of Pakeha "colonisation and its social and economic effects on whanau."

She suggested the figures be deleted, but the deletion was of Mr McClay's "own volition."

Mr McClay said there were two separate meetings over the report, the first with Mrs Turia and the second with Mr Horomia alongside Mr Maharey and associate Ruth Dyson.

At that meeting Mr Horomia also made it clear that he did not like the report, said Mr McClay. Afterwards, the Children's Commissioner wrote to Mr Horomia explaining his role, but has had no response.

"I felt more uncomfortable about the death of a little boy than he did about the existence of the report."

Prime Minister Helen Clark said on Tuesday that ministers had to recognise the line between Government employees, whom they could direct, and statutory officers such as the Children's Commissioner, who were independent.

She blamed the interference by the ministers on inexperience.

Helen Clark said Mrs Turia had been an MP for only three years before becoming a minister.

She said it should be recognised, however, that Mrs Turia was a strong advocate for the prevention of domestic violence.