Should the practice of Whāngai be recognised in New Zealand law?

The recent confronting footage of a baby being uplifted from a maternity ward by social workers from Oranga Tamariki has come as a shock to many.

The confronting images filmed by Newsroom comes as a record number of children filter through state care.

Questions are now being asked about our state care system and whether changes can be made - be it through formal adoption, fostering or the traditional Māori way of Whāngai.

Marae reporter Hikurangi Jackson investigates the alternatives to state care and whether Whāngai should have a bigger role.

Watch the full story above.