A new report from Aroturuki Tamariki | Independent Children’s Monitor has delivered a stark warning about the ongoing failures of Aotearoa’s child protection system, revealing that one quarter of Māori children and young people who were the subject of safety and wellbeing concerns had already been reported 10 or more times before intervention occurred.
The report, Outcomes for Tamariki and Rangatahi Māori and Their Whānau in the Oranga Tamariki System 2024/25, paints a troubling picture of persistent inequities across the care and protection system, with Māori children continuing to be disproportionately represented at every stage.
While Māori make up just 27 percent of Aotearoa’s youth population, they account for 57 percent of reports of concern, 68 percent of children in care, 59 percent of youth police proceedings and 80 percent of young people in youth justice custody.
The findings suggest that opportunities to intervene early and support whānau are being missed repeatedly.
The report found that most Māori children and young people who had a report of concern made about their safety or wellbeing in the past year had previously come to the attention of authorities. One in four had accumulated 10 or more reports of concern, while urgent and critical reports involving Māori tamariki were also found to receive less timely responses from Oranga Tamariki.
The data points to a system struggling to address issues before they escalate into more serious outcomes.
Particularly concerning are the findings relating to youth justice.
The report found that 95 percent of rangatahi Māori involved in youth justice had previously been the subject of reports of concern about their safety or wellbeing. Half had experienced more than 10 such reports, while more than half had never received a care and protection family group conference — one of the key mechanisms designed to develop plans to address concerns before they become entrenched.
The report suggests this represents a significant missed opportunity to intervene earlier and support whānau before young people enter the youth justice system.
The findings also show Māori children who enter care often experience poorer outcomes than both non-Māori in the system and Māori who have never had involvement with Oranga Tamariki. Māori children in care are more likely to remain in care longer and less likely to receive regular visits from social workers.
Beyond care and protection, the report examined outcomes relating to education, health, employment, driver licensing and housing.
Across nearly every measure, Māori involved in the Oranga Tamariki system experienced worse outcomes than those who were not. The report notes that Māori who have never been involved with Oranga Tamariki achieve driver licence rates similar to non-Māori, highlighting the extent to which system involvement is associated with poorer long-term outcomes.
The Independent Children’s Monitor argues the solutions have been known for decades.
Among the approaches highlighted are greater investment in prevention, more flexible commissioning models, and stronger iwi, Māori and community-led responses that place government in a supporting rather than leading role. The report also profiles iwi-led initiatives and local partnerships that are already demonstrating positive results.
However, the report concludes that change is not happening quickly enough.
For many Māori leaders and child advocates, the findings reinforce longstanding concerns that the system continues to respond to crises rather than addressing the root causes of harm. The overrepresentation of Māori within care and youth justice has remained one of the most persistent challenges facing successive governments.
As debate continues about the future of Oranga Tamariki and child welfare policy, the report serves as another reminder that behind every statistic is a child, a whānau and a community seeking support.
The message from Aroturuki Tamariki is clear: unless earlier intervention, whānau-centred support and Māori-led solutions are prioritised, future generations of tamariki and rangatahi Māori will continue to be disproportionately drawn into systems that are failing to meet their needs.
Disclaimer: Matthew Tukaki previously served as Chairman of the Ministerial Advisory Board to Oranga Tamariki. His comments and analysis are provided in a personal and professional capacity and should not be construed as representing the views of Oranga Tamariki, the New Zealand Government, or any current or former Minister.
Acopy of the report can be downloaded here: Outcomes for Maori 24-25 – EMBARGOED until publication on 9 June 2026
