About us | Mō mātau

Our values and policies Oversight system Our history Corporate documents News and updates Working for us
About us navigation

We were established in 2019 to monitor compliance with the National Care Standards (NCS) Regulations. On 1 May 2023 our role was expanded to monitor the whole of the oranga tamariki system. The oranga tamariki system covers services provided under the Oranga Tamariki Act. These include early intervention, care, youth justice and transitions out of care.  

The Oversight of the Oranga Tamariki System Act requires that we act independently in:

  • developing our monitoring tools and approaches
  • carrying out our monitoring function.

This ensures that our operations and findings are independent from ministers and government agencies. And it ensures that our monitoring can be trusted by the public and decision makers. We work closely with our oversight system partners – the Ombudsman and Mana
Prestige, authority, control, power, influence, status, spiritual power, charismaView the full glossary Mokopuna – Children’s Commissioner.

Our people | Kaimahi

Nearly two-thirds of our kaimahi gather and analyse information. This reflects our emphasis on listening to the voices of those experiencing the system.

Our monitors visit communities. They are spread around the motu – in Tāmaki Makaurau
AucklandView the full glossary Auckland, Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington and Ōtautahi
ChristchurchView the full glossary Christchurch.

Our monitors come from different backgrounds and areas of expertise including social work, psychology and education. They are trained in listening and speaking with children and young people. They have experience in working with different communities, including Māori communities.

Whanganui-a-tara is the base for most of the teams who support this work. They carry the voices of experience through into the reports we publish. This includes Data and Insights; Reports, Development and Influence; Communications; and Māori and Community Engagement.

Chief Executive Tumu Whakarae

Chief Executive

Arran Jones is the Chief Executive of Aroturuki Tamariki. Arran has been with us since April 2020. He has a legal background. He spent over 10 years working in the Ministry of Social Development’s Legal Service both as senior solicitor and Deputy Chief Legal Advisor leading operational and corporate teams.

Arran has held leadership roles at the Ministry of Social Development including in the Office of the Chief Executive, Legal Services and at Work and Income. More recently he was Head of Privacy at ACC. Arran also led the Partnerships and Programmes workstream in the Investing in Children programme that established Oranga Tamariki.

“My vision for Aroturuki Tamariki is to listen to many voices, most importantly of tamariki, rangatahi and their whānau. To reflect and then share insights to hold the oranga tamariki system to account and to support informed decision making, both at the centre and in communities. I believe this is how we can provide the greatest support to Oranga Tamariki and other monitored agencies, the organisations providing services in the oranga tamariki system, and ultimately the tamariki and rangatahi in their care or at risk of coming into care.”

Chief Monitor Tumu Aroturuki

Chief Monitor

Nova Banaghan is the Chief Monitor. Nova has been with us since August 2019. She is a registered social worker with a 25-year career in the public service. Her work has included leadership roles with Child, Youth and Family, the Ministry of Social Development, and the Department of Corrections.

Nova’s experience includes working directly with tamariki
Children (plural) aged 0-13 yearsView the full glossary  and their whānau
Whānau refers to people who are biologically linked or share whakapapa. For the Monitor’s monitoring purposes, whānau includes parents, whānau members living with tamariki at the point they have come into care View the full glossary and supporting the Women’s Strategy at the Department of Corrections. Nova has also developed relationships with non-government organisations, and iwi
TribeView the full glossary and Māori organisations. Nova is on the board of governors for a not-for-profit organisation supporting children and families of those with a parent in prison.

“Part of the role of Aroturuki Tamariki is to highlight great practice and to support professionals to have everything they need to help tamariki and rangatahi
Young person aged 14 – 21 years of ageView the full glossary to have positive lives. We do this by identifying what supports them to do this and what gets in the way. My aim is to see practice improvement, and all agencies working together through the influence of Aroturuki Tamariki, to give tamariki and rangatahi the best opportunities."

General Manager, Corporate, Strategy and Insights Kaiwhakahaere Rangatōpū

General Manager, Corporate, Strategy and Insights

Shelley Tyson is the General Manager, Corporate, Strategy and Insights and has been at Aroturuki Tamariki
Children (plural) aged 0-13 yearsView the full glossary since October 2019. She has an HR background and has worked in a range of agencies including the Ministry of Social Development, WorkSafe, Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Shelley joined us in our establishment phase. She was instrumental in developing our functional design and organisational structure, before leading the recruitment of our first 40 kaimahi.

Shelley holds responsibility for a wide range of functions. These include:

  • data and insights
  • strategy and performance
  • report development
  • learning and development
  • human resources
  • other corporate deliverables.  

“My role is about supporting Aroturuki Tamariki kaimahi so they can deliver the best, most accurate and helpful information and insights. These can drive improvements in the oranga tamariki system and better outcomes for tamariki and rangatahi
Young person aged 14 – 21 years of ageView the full glossary experiencing the system.”

Our Board

On 1 August 2025, we became an independent Crown entity and our inaugural board was established. Our board governs our operations in accordance with the Crown Entities and Oversight Acts. They ensure we meet our monitoring responsibilities and that our performance meets their expectations, and those of the minister, parliament and the public. Members of our board have knowledge and experience of the oranga tamariki system, quality assurance and data governance. 

Dr Angela (Ang) Jury ONZM, Chair

Dr Ang Jury is an experienced senior leader in the non-governmental sector. Her experience includes more than 10 years as Chief Executive of the National Collective of Independent Women’s Refuges. Ang has extensive expertise in managing complex relationships, change management, performance monitoring, and research and analysis. She has served on two government data groups. Together with her research oversight in her recent Chief Executive role, this experience gives her a deep understanding of data governance. Ang has been involved in the domestic violence and community services sector for more than 20 years, including governance roles. Through this work, she has gained a thorough understanding of the oranga tamariki system. 

Rev. Murray Edridge

Rev. Murray Edridge is currently Wellington City Missioner. He is an experienced senior leader in both the public and non-governmental sectors, including 8 years as Chief Executive of Barnardos New Zealand. Murray has a finance and corporate systems background. He has extensive experience in change and relationship management, public accountability and quality assurance. Through his current and past roles, Murray has a thorough understanding of the oranga tamariki system.

Hon Jo Goodhew

Jo Goodhew has held a range of health and community sector governance roles, including a current role as Chair of Presbyterian Support South Canterbury. She is an experienced senior leader. This includes 5 years as a Minister holding diverse portfolios. Jo has a strong understanding of the oranga tamariki system, governance and quality assurance.

Te Kāhui

In May 2019, Te Kāhui
To flock, to herd, to cluster and so denotes a groupView the full glossary was established to help achieve the engagement and collaboration goals for the policy and legislative phase of our establishment. These key Māori leaders play a pivotal role in supporting us by providing advice and support on our monitoring approach and how we work. Members of Te Kāhui have expertise, leadership, and mana
Prestige, authority, control, power, influence, status, spiritual power, charismaView the full glossary in health, justice, and social services for Māori.

Wayne Blissett BSW, Chair

Ngāpuhi

Wayne is currently the Executive Director, Tuia Te Oranga (Rangitanē o Manawatū). This organisation provides a range of whānau ora and social services to tamariki
Children (plural) aged 0-13 yearsView the full glossary, rangatahi
Young person aged 14 – 21 years of ageView the full glossary and whānau
Whānau refers to people who are biologically linked or share whakapapa. For the Monitor’s monitoring purposes, whānau includes parents, whānau members living with tamariki at the point they have come into care View the full glossary who are known to Oranga Tamariki. It has a specialist kaupapa Māori service in the youth justice space.  Wayne has over 25 years’ experience working in kaupapa Māori health and social services, following his degree in social work. As a graduate of state care, Wayne has a passion for ensuring tamariki and rangatahi receive the highest quality support and opportunity while in the care of the state, while ensuring a whānau-centred approach. Wayne is also the Co-Chair of Te Kaunihera – The Māori Committee to the Royal Australia New Zealand College of Psychiatry. He is a member of the Genomics Aotearoa
New ZealandView the full glossary Māori Data Advisory Group.

Tā Mark Solomon KNZM

Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Kurī

Tā Mark Wiremu Solomon is an experienced and respected leader of his hapū
Sub-tribeView the full glossary, his iwi
TribeView the full glossary and the wider New Zealand business community. He has served as a member of his local school board and the board of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, as a trustee of Takahanga Marae in his home kāinga
Address, residence, village, settlement, habitation, habitat, dwellingView the full glossary of Kaikoura, and as Kaiwhakahaere of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu for nearly 18 years. He has held a number of government, board and directorship roles including the Canterbury District Health Board, Deep South Science Challenge Board, Sustainable Seas Science Challenge Board, Te Ohu Kaimoana, Te Pūtahitanga o Te Waipounamu Whānau Ora Commission, and E Tū Whānau
Whānau refers to people who are biologically linked or share whakapapa. For the Monitor’s monitoring purposes, whānau includes parents, whānau members living with tamariki at the point they have come into care View the full glossary. Tā Mark is a strong advocate for Māori.

Eugene Ryder BSW

Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Awa and Tūwharetoa ki Kawerau

Eugene Ryder has over 25 years’ experience working to support marginalised families. His expertise and voluntary work in and alongside gang communities in particular, is exceptional. Eugene was appointed by the Chair of the Royal Commission on the Abuse of Children in State Care as an ambassador and key contact with networks in the gang and wider community. He has worked alongside various government departments, advising and sharing his knowledge and expertise. Most notably, Eugene has worked with the Department of Justice, Department of Corrections, Oranga Tamariki and the Ministry for Social Development. He is a co-chair for the Survivors Experience Board and a Kaitiaki on the Climate Commission’s Ināia Tonu Nei programme.

Enid Ratahi-Pryor QSO

Te Whānau
Whānau refers to people who are biologically linked or share whakapapa. For the Monitor’s monitoring purposes, whānau includes parents, whānau members living with tamariki at the point they have come into care View the full glossary-ā-Apanui and Ngāti Awa

Enid has a 30-year career in executive management. She has held roles as a former Chief Executive of iwi
TribeView the full glossary rūnanga, iwi holding companies and iwi social health and social services. She brings extensive knowledge and experience through her work across a number of sectors. This includes developing and implementing a range of health, social service and employment deliverables and outcomes to whānau experiencing severe vulnerability through living in poverty. Enid has also held governance positions within Housing NZ, Bay of Plenty District Health Board and primary health organisations. She has served on government-led working parties, community working groups and philanthropic bodies including lotteries and community trusts. More recently she is responsible for leading out one of the Enabling Communities projects in 2024. The initiative seeks to reduce the number of tamariki
Children (plural) aged 0-13 yearsView the full glossary coming into state care by reducing the state’s role in caring for tamariki.  She was awarded a Queens Service Order in 2003 for public service. Enid and her husband live in Whakatāne. She has two adult daughters and a mokopuna. 

Dee-Ann Wolferstan, MBA

Ngāti Kahu

Dee-Ann has extensive leadership experience with 10 years as Kaihautu for three iwi
TribeView the full glossary/Māori organisations and currently as the Kaihautū – Chief Executive for Te Rūnanga-ā-Iwi o Ngāti Kahu. She also has extensive governance experience, having served as the chairperson of Social Services Providers Aotearoa
New ZealandView the full glossary,  and is currently chairperson of Te Whānau
Whānau refers to people who are biologically linked or share whakapapa. For the Monitor’s monitoring purposes, whānau includes parents, whānau members living with tamariki at the point they have come into care View the full glossary Rangimarie Trust Board and an independent board member for Cure Kids New Zealand. Dee-Ann's expertise in financial auditing enables her to provide insights and guidance in financial matters. She is currently an independent advisor to the Audit Risk and Finance Committee of the Northland Regional Council and Chairperson of the Risk and Audit Committee of Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa. Dee-Ann values her personal relationships and family. Her husband of 30 years, two wonderful children and her two mokopuna bring her joy, happiness and a sense of purpose that transcends any professional achievements.