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March 17, 2026
#national: Care-experienced rangatahi call for stronger voice in shaping Aotearoa’s care system
Dale Husband
Posted On March 17, 2026
Download AudioA national conference bringing together care-experienced rangatahi from across Aotearoa is highlighting the importance of lived experience in shaping the future of the country’s care system.
The gathering in Wellington, titled Kōkiri – The Future Speaks, has been organised by VOYCE – Whakarongo Mai and designed by rangatahi who have spent time in state care. The event aims to elevate the voices of young people and ensure their perspectives are reflected in decisions about how the care system operates.
Among those speaking about the significance of the event is VOYCE youth spokesperson Celine Waikohu George, who brings her own lived experience of the care system to the national conversation.
George, who affiliates to Muriwhenua Whānui, Ngāti Maniapoto, Tainui and Ngāi Te Rangi, spent her early childhood in care before returning to the system again during her pre-teen years. Now 27 and a mother herself, she has been working alongside VOYCE since around 2020, advocating for better outcomes for tamariki and rangatahi currently in care.
For George and many others attending the conference, seeing a national event designed by rangatahi represents an important shift in how conversations about care are being led. Historically, policy and practice in the sector have often been shaped by institutions and professionals rather than the young people most directly affected by those decisions.
Kōkiri aims to change that dynamic by placing the experiences and insights of care-experienced young people at the centre of the discussion. The conference provides a platform where rangatahi can share their stories, identify the challenges within the system and contribute ideas for building a future where young people in care feel a stronger sense of belonging and connection.
George says imagining a future grounded in those values requires changes that strengthen relationships and stability for young people growing up within the care system. Many rangatahi in care experience frequent changes in placement, schooling and support networks, which can disrupt their sense of identity and belonging.
Advocates say improvements in long-term stability, cultural connection and consistent support are among the areas where meaningful reform could make the greatest difference for young people currently in care.
The conference also comes at a time when VOYCE is preparing to present its key policy priorities ahead of the next general election. On the second day of the gathering, the organisation will release a set of election-year asks aimed at improving outcomes for children and young people in care.
Those priorities are expected to focus on strengthening advocacy services, ensuring young people have a greater role in decisions affecting their lives, and improving the systems that support them through childhood and into adulthood.
From a youth perspective, advocates say the most urgent issues are those that affect everyday life for rangatahi in care – including stability, access to support, and ensuring their voices are heard in decisions about where they live, who they connect with and what their future looks like.
For George, the conference represents an opportunity not only to share lived experience but also to contribute to shaping a system that better supports the next generation of young people.
As rangatahi gather in Wellington to share ideas and build connections, the message emerging from the conference is that meaningful reform must be grounded in the voices and experiences of those who have lived within the care system themselves.
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