Kōkiri Marae

Kōkiri Marae Keriana Olsen Trust (Kōkiri Marae) was granted custody for the first time in 2023/24. Kōkiri Marae had fewer than six tamarikiClosetamariki
Children (plural) aged 0-13 yearsView the full glossary in its custody and care during the reporting period. It also had a number of tamariki and rangatahiCloserangatahi
Young person aged 14 – 21 years of ageView the full glossary in its day-today care, for whom custody remains with Oranga Tamariki (shared care).¹⁸⁰

Tamariki in the custody and care of Kōkiri Marae remain settled and well supported by their whānauClosewhānau
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 caregiver. The holistic needs of tamariki are being met and they are flourishing in their education, participate in recreational activities and have regular connection with immediate and extended whānau.

This is the second time we have reported on Kōkiri Marae. Kōkiri Marae was the first Māori organisation to take on custody and care of tamarikiClosetamariki
Children (plural) aged 0-13 yearsView the full glossary. Kōkiri Marae takes a holistic, ao Māori approach to its care and custody.

This section focuses on the approach Kōkiri Marae takes to compliance with the NCS RegulationsCloseNCS Regulations
(National Care Standards and Related Matters) Regulations 2018 View the full glossary in respect of tamariki and rangatahiCloserangatahi
Young person aged 14 – 21 years of ageView the full glossary in its custody and care.¹⁸¹

In our previous report, we noted that Kōkiri Marae was granted custody at a time when it was not fully equipped for compliance with the NCS Regulations. We also reported that, while Kōkiri Marae was supporting wellbeing and providing appropriate care, it was not fully compliant with the NCS Regulations. Kōkiri Marae also acknowledged last year that it had yet to fully embed compliance with the NCS Regulations in its policies and practices and that this was an area of rapid development.

This year, we have observed a marked increase in compliance with the NCS Regulations by Kōkiri Marae and in its understanding of its obligations under the NCS Regulations. Oranga Tamariki completed a progress report for Kōkiri Marae in June 2025, which confirmed that Kōkiri Marae has policies in place to enable it to meet most of the NCS Regulations. Oranga Tamariki also commented in its progress report that Kōkiri Marae understands, and is able to support, tamariki needs well. Oranga Tamariki further commented that Kōkiri Marae is transitioning from using Oranga Tamariki practice tools to developing its own tools to replace those over time.

The following summary of compliance with the NCS Regulations is taken from the information provided by Kōkiri Marae.

Needs assessments, plans and visits

During the reporting period, Kōkiri Marae continued to improve its needs assessments and associated tools and resources, with an emphasis on whānauClosewhānau
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 connection, whakapapa, health and education. Kōkiri Marae confirmed that its needs assessments are now in line with both the NCS Regulations and the Kōkiri Marae kaupapa Māori framework. It considers that the assessments provide a strong, holistic picture of the needs of tamariki.

Kōkiri Marae has drawn on the All About Me plan provided by Oranga Tamariki to guide its practice around plans. Kōkiri Marae further developed its plans to maintain its tikangaClosetikanga
Correct procedure, the customary system of values and practices that have developed over time and are deeply embedded in the social context View the full glossary, remain tika and pono and be centred on the wellbeing of tamariki, whānau, hapūClosehapū
Sub-tribeView the full glossary and iwiCloseiwi
TribeView the full glossary.

Kōkiri Marae provided evidence that plans are developed to support the assessed and holistic needs of tamariki. It told us that formal plan reviews are undertaken every six months with whānau and informal huiClosehui
Meeting, gatheringView the full glossary also take place every three months.

Kōkiri Marae told us that visits to tamariki occur as required by the NCS Regulations. Visits are planned but can also happen as needed to meet the needs of tamariki and kaitiaki. Kōkiri Marae advised that visits are carried out in a way that upholds the manaClosemana
Prestige, authority, control, power, influence, status, spiritual power, charismaView the full glossary of tamariki and whānau and are treated as a space of whakawhanaungatanga.

Support to address tamariki needs

Tamariki receive education that meets their needs and provides access to both te ao MāoriClosete ao Māori
The Māori worldView the full glossary and te reo Māori.

Kōkiri Marae told us whānau connection is an area of particular focus and gave us evidence of this. Tamariki relationships with immediate and extended whānau are supported, including when significant whānau events occur.

Tamariki are given opportunities to be involved in recreational activities. Tamariki have support to develop their identity and sense of belonging in their home and with kaitiaki and whānau members. Kōkiri Marae has a clear safety plan in place for tamariki to ensure that the care environment remains secure and supportive.

Kōkiri Marae, as custodian, is responsible for assessing the health, education and wellbeing needs of tamariki in its custody. Kōkiri Marae told us that it is not able to access the Oranga Tamariki Gateway assessment process for tamariki in its custody. Despite the Gateway assessment process not being available to it, Kōkiri Marae has told us that the immediate health, education and wellbeing needs of tamariki are being met.

Kōkiri Marae is funded by Oranga Tamariki to meet the direct needs of tamariki. However, some costs extend beyond the contracted funding, particularly those relating to whānau connection and tamariki recreational activities. In these cases, Kōkiri Marae must fund these costs itself to meet tamariki needs. Kōkiri Marae is demonstrating that it recognises its responsibilities under the NCS Regulations and is meeting tamariki needs, notwithstanding the funding issues with Oranga Tamariki.

Caregiver (kaitiaki) and care placement assessment and support

Kōkiri Marae has told us that its kaimahi visits to tamariki and kaitiaki are designed to ensure that both tamariki and kaitiaki remain safe, nurtured and connected. Kōkiri Marae is in regular contact with kaitiaki every one to two weeks and visits kaitiaki every four to six weeks.

The Kōkiri Marae approach to delivering support to kaitiaki is relational, where lines of communication are always open and Kōkiri Marae is there to give kaitiaki respite, advice and other practical supports to ensure that tamariki have their needs met. This includes ensuring that kaitiaki do not face any financial barriers to including tamariki in whānau holidays, gatherings and other activities.

Kōkiri Marae told us about its focus on giving kaitiaki up-to-date information about tamariki in their care. This ensures that kaitiaki have the information they need to care for tamariki.

Caregivers are approved by Kōkiri Marae and undergo safety checks every two years or as required. Kōkiri Marae has confirmed that it has processes and policies in place that require this.

Supporting tamariki to express their views and contribute to their care experience

Kōkiri Marae maintains regular Ko Wai Au? and whakapapa books and other records of whakapapa and significant life events for tamariki in its custody and care.

One of the kaupapa Māori approaches Kōkiri Marae has developed is to gift a personalised pukapuka (book) to tamariki before they transition to a new home. This pukapuka includes whakapapa connections, photos of whānau and the home that tamariki will be transitioning to and information about tamariki routines and activities. Part of this approach is to give tamariki a space to ask questions or share thoughts.

Part 4 of the NCS Regulations also includes duties relating to allegations of abuse. In the reporting period, no allegations have been made and there have been no complaints,.

Supporting tamariki during care transitions

There have not been any changes in placement during the reporting period. Kōkiri Marae has previously told us that it works hard with kaitiaki and whānau to support ongoing relationships and to avoid care placements breaking down.

180 Compliance with the NCS RegulationsCloseNCS Regulations
(National Care Standards and Related Matters) Regulations 2018 View the full glossary for tamarikiClosetamariki
Children (plural) aged 0-13 yearsView the full glossary and rangatahiCloserangatahi
Young person aged 14 – 21 years of ageView the full glossary in shared care is discussed in our assessment of Oranga Tamariki compliance with the regulations. Shared care is where Oranga Tamariki has care or custody of tamariki and rangatahi and is legally responsible for their day-to-day care but where a provider is contracted to care for tamariki and rangatahi (in a group home or other setting it staffs) or to support caregivers to care for tamariki and rangatahi.
181 This is in line with our approach to monitoring other agencies such as Barnardos and Open Home Foundation, which have a mix of custody and shared care.