April 05, 2022
Pēpi uplifts drop as advice heeded
The Chief Ombudsman says Oranga Tamariki is performing much better than it was two years ago when the attempted uplift of a newborn baby from Hastings Hospital caused national outrage.
Judge Peter Boshier says he is keeping a close watch on how the agency is responding to his 2020 report, He Take Kōhukihuki, on the policies, procedures, and practices relating to the removal of newborn pēpi.
At that stage, up to 17 pēpi a month were being taken under without notice interim custody orders.
“That’s fallen by three quarters to four a month. The uptake on our recommendation on the decrease in uplift is much, much better than it was, still some way to go but much better,” Judge Boshier says.
He says the culture within Oranga Tamariki is changing under new leadership, and it seems to be more willing to engage with complaints and admit errors.