A Maori mothers advocate says Maori children aren't only being uplifted by Oranga Tamariki as newborns.

A Newsroom investigation has taken place into the ministry's attempt to take a newborn baby from its Maori mother.

Maori Midwives chief Jean Te Huia says there are cases of children being uplifted at daycare and school.

She told Heather du Plessis-Allan around 90 per cent of babies uplifted are Maori.

"So the question I want to ask, and the question every single New Zealander should be wanting to know, is why this is only happening to Maori babies."