June 28, 2023
Care residences necessary but could be better
Children’s Minister Kelvin Davis says calls to close Oranga Tamariki facilities are a simplistic answer to a complex problem.
The calls surfaced again when investigations were opened into alleged inappropriate sexual behaviour by staff in some residential facilities.
Mr Davis says Oranga Tamariki runs both prison-like youth justice residences for young people who have committed serious crime, and care and protection residences for young people with severe mental health and other problems.
Those will eventually be replaced by five-bedroom community homes, and there may be some changes to the operating model.
“To be honest the families of these people, the whanau just cannot look after them such are their needs so there has to be a mixture of security, there has to be a mixture of compassion and the model of care needs to make sure their emotional and mental needs are being looked after,” Mr Davis says.