September 29, 2021
Oranga Tamariki report hits mark
Children’s Minister Kelvin Davis says the Government has accepted all recommendations in a hard-hitting report on Oranga Tamariki.
The report by an independent panel led by Matthew Tukaki described the child protection agency as self-centred and directionless.
It called for decision making and resources to be shifted to communities, with children and whānau at the centre of the system.
The child protection agency needs a new operating model, with better support and training for social workers.
There will also be a governance board created.
Section 78 orders to uplift children without notice will only be used as a last resort, and children will only be taken into care after all avenues with community and whānau have been exhausted.
It was an attempt to take a newborn baby from Hawke’s Bay Hospital that led to the report.
Mr Davis says the biggest thing for him in the report is its focus on community-led prevention, and he believes communities have the answers and Oranga Tamariki needs to work with them to stop children entering into care.