Source: Aroturuki Tamariki | Independent Children’s Monitor
There has been no real improvement in compliance with the National Care Standards (NCS) Regulations, six years after coming into effect. The regulations are the minimum standard the more than 5,600 tamariki (children) and rangatahi (young people) in care should receive. Oranga Tamariki has custody of nearly 99 percent of those in care.
The latest Experiences of Care in Aotearoa for the period 1 July 2024 – 30 June 2025 was published by Aroturuki Tamariki | Independent Children’s Monitor today.
Aroturuki Tamariki Chief Executive Arran Jones says this is the fifth full report on compliance with the regulations. The key reasons for there not being more improvement are that social workers need more help, and tamariki and rangatahi in care are still not sufficiently prioritised for government services.
“The three most common reasons tamariki and rangatahi enter care are parental alcohol and drug use, family violence, and neglect. They need to be well cared for and they need stability,” Mr Jones said.
The report found:
· 28 percent of tamariki and rangatahi in care had a change in caregiver. Half of these changes were unexpected. The most common reason for change was because the caregiver was unable or unwilling to continue providing care
· nearly 250 tamariki and rangatahi in care spent time in motels in the last year, a total of more than 4,000 nights – 1,000 more than the previous year. The median length of stay was four days.
· one third of tamariki and rangatahi were still not being visited by their social worker as often as they should. Tamariki and rangatahi still have an average of 11 social workers during their time in care
· 530 tamariki and rangatahi were found to have been abused in care – a continued increase. Those in secure residences or who had been returned home to live with their parent were more likely to experience abuse
· one in 10 tamariki and rangatahi of compulsory school age were not enrolled in school. Those who were enrolled had a lower rate of regular attendance than those not in care – particularly at secondary school (34% regular attendance)
· tamariki and rangatahi in care have high mental health support needs and accessing services is a struggle. The rate of hospitalisation for self-harm is much higher for those in care
· only 11 percent of eligible rangatahi had a completed life skills assessment and only one third received help from Oranga Tamariki to obtain identity documents (such as a birth certificate) and set up a bank account.
The report again highlights challenges accessing health and education services, and the need for greater prioritisation of tamariki and rangatahi in care.
“Ultimately Oranga Tamariki is responsible for securing health and education services for tamariki and rangatahi in its care. But it is tamariki and rangatahi who are missing out when government agencies waste time debating who should fund them. Improved communication and clearer prioritisation across government will help Oranga Tamariki meet its obligations – and ensure tamariki and rangatahi get the help they need.”
Mr Jones said Oranga Tamariki also has a duty to ensure rangatahi who are in care and getting ready to live independently at the age of 18 have the basics they need.
“There has been a concerted effort to improve the referral rate to transition support services – this is good to see. However, nearly one quarter of rangatahi are still not being offered this help. And they need to be referred earlier – of those offered, only 63 percent of rangatahi were referred at age 16.
“In early 2025 Oranga Tamariki developed a National Care Standards Action Plan. This is the first time it has had a clear plan with specific targets for improving compliance with the regulations. Our next report will reflect any improvement that results from this plan,” Mr Jones said.
Read the report online at https://aroturuki.govt.nz/reports/eoc-24-25
Notes:
Social worker visits are required in accordance with the child’s plan, or at least every eight weeks if there is no frequency specified. This is the requirement set out in the NCS Regulations. The operational data measure Oranga Tamariki uses for its quarterly reporting is if the child has been visited once in the previous eight weeks.
The National Care Standards Regulations came into effect in 2019 and set out the minimum standards required when a child comes into care. These regulations apply to Oranga Tamariki, Open Home Foundation and any other agency with custody and care responsibilities. The lead indicators Oranga Tamariki uses to measure its own performance do not necessarily align with what the NCS regulations require.
Aroturuki Tamariki | Independent Children’s Monitor checks that organisations supporting and working with tamariki, rangatahi and their whānau are meeting their needs, delivering services effectively, and improving outcomes. We monitor compliance with the Oranga Tamariki Act and the associated regulations, including the National Care Standards. We also look at how the wider system (such as early intervention) is supporting tamariki and rangatahi under the Oversight of Oranga Tamariki System Act.
Aroturuki Tamariki works closely with its partners in the oversight system, Mana Mokopuna – Children’s Commissioner and the Ombudsman.
