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March 17, 2026
#national: Rangatahi voices take centre stage at VOYCE national conference in Wellington
Dale Husband
Posted On March 17, 2026
Download AudioCare-experienced rangatahi from across Aotearoa are gathering in Wellington for a landmark national conference aimed at reshaping the future of the country’s care system.
The event, titled Kōkiri – The Future Speaks, is the first national conference organised by VOYCE – Whakarongo Mai and has been designed by young people who have lived experience within the state care system. The gathering brings together rangatahi, advocates, sector leaders and policymakers to focus on ensuring the voices of children and young people in care play a meaningful role in shaping future policy and practice.
VOYCE – Whakarongo Mai chief executive Tracie Shipton says the organisation’s central mission is to ensure that tamariki and rangatahi in care are listened to and that their experiences directly influence decisions made about the care system.
VOYCE was established to advocate for children and young people in state and whānau care, supporting them to express their views and ensuring those perspectives are heard by decision-makers. The organisation works closely with rangatahi across the country, providing advocacy, support and opportunities for young people to contribute to the development of the care system.
The Kōkiri conference marks a significant milestone for the organisation and the sector. Unlike many traditional conferences that focus primarily on professionals and policymakers, this event has been shaped by rangatahi themselves, reflecting the importance of lived experience in guiding reform.
By placing care-experienced young people at the centre of the programme, the conference aims to create a platform where rangatahi can share their experiences, discuss the challenges they have faced within the care system and contribute ideas for improving outcomes for those who come after them.
The gathering also comes at a critical time for the sector as Aotearoa approaches an election year. On the second day of the conference, VOYCE will release its key policy priorities, outlining the changes it believes are necessary to improve the lives of tamariki and rangatahi in care.
Those priorities are expected to focus on strengthening advocacy services, improving the quality and consistency of care placements, and ensuring that young people have a stronger voice in decisions that affect their lives.
Advocates say placing lived experience at the centre of policy development is essential to building a care system that truly meets the needs of the young people it serves. For many rangatahi who have spent time in state care, opportunities like Kōkiri represent an important step toward reclaiming agency and ensuring their stories help shape change.
At the same time, the organisation hosting the conference is facing growing financial pressures. Like many advocacy organisations in the social sector, VOYCE is operating in an environment where demand for services continues to rise while funding remains uncertain.
Shipton says sustaining organisations that amplify the voices of children and young people in care is essential if the system is to become more responsive and accountable. Advocacy groups play a crucial role in ensuring that the experiences of rangatahi are not lost within large institutional systems.
The Kōkiri conference aims to highlight those voices while encouraging stronger collaboration between young people, government agencies and the wider care community.
For the rangatahi attending, the gathering is about more than discussion. It represents an opportunity to influence the future of the care system and ensure the next generation of young people entering care are supported with greater understanding, respect and dignity.
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