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October 30, 2025
Report Reveals Harm and Neglect in State Care for Māori Rangatahi
Atereano Mateariki
Posted On October 30, 2025
Download AudioA new report reveals damning statistics about the experiences of rangatahi in state care.
The VOYCE – Whakarongo Mai Kei te rongo koe? Are you listening? report shows over 500 children were harmed in state custody last year.
The report also found some rangatahi were living in cars, garages, or motels, and more than 1000 youth in care are without a social worker.
VOYCE CEO Tracie Shipton and former state care kid Abbi Bramwell say most young people in care are Māori—and the government is falling far short of its promises, made in 2020 for:
- Care and provision of needs
- Safety and stability
- Support for education
- Access to healthcare
- Inclusion in decision-making
- Confidence in identity, whakapapa, culture, and language.
“Over 70% of the young people interviewed were Māori, that’s how we did it. We tried to make sure this is an absolute representation of what is happening for our young people,” says Shipton.
Despite some Māori youth feeling loved by someone in their lives, the report’s scorecard gave shockingly low ratings for safety and stability, with some scores as low as 1.9 out of 10.
“They don’t have that platform to be able to exercise their voice or speak up about what’s going on, and more commonly, we see it through their behaviour—and their behaviour is condemned, you know, and we treat them as if they’re criminals,” says Bramwell.
With approximately 6000 young people in care, the report urges a new commitment to Māori tamariki: put their needs ahead of politics, prioritise their wellbeing, and hold the system accountable.
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