Outcomes for tamariki and rangatahi Māori and their whānau

In 2023, our monitoring scope widened beyond those in care to the entire oranga tamariki system. Our approach, with the voices of tamarikiClosetamariki
Children (plural) aged 0-13 yearsView the full glossary (children), rangatahiCloserangatahi
Young person aged 14 – 21 years of ageView the full glossary (young people) and 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 (families) at the centre, has not changed. What has changed is the breadth of who we engage with, and what we hear from them and those working across the oranga tamariki system. This report is our first system-wide report focused on the extent to which system performance is delivering outcomes for tamariki and rangatahi Māori – something we will be reporting on annually.

The oranga tamariki system ranges from early intervention through care and protection and youth justice. It includes the delivery of services and supports from a range of government agencies and iwiCloseiwi
TribeView the full glossary, Māori and community providers. The past two years have been our first engaging with New Zealand Police as an agency delivering services under the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989. We have been impressed with the level of engagement we have received, and the eagerness to learn from what we gather.

A recurring point throughout this report is a reminder that most tamariki and rangatahi Māori in AotearoaCloseAotearoa
New ZealandView the full glossary are not involved in the oranga tamariki system. This is important.

Tamariki and rangatahi Māori in the oranga tamariki system have similar hopes and aspirations to those who are not. What is happening, or not happening, to prevent those hopes and aspirations from being achieved?

The over-representation of Māori at every level – from reports of concern to being in care or involved with youth justice – is a clear indicator the system is not performing. When tamariki or rangatahi first become known to the system and help is needed, this is an opportunity for the state to provide the right help at the right time. Even after these opportunities have been missed and rangatahi have offended, there is yet another window of opportunity to provide the right help – help to address the effects of abuse and trauma many went through as a child, help to address unmet education or health needs and help to connect with wider whānau and a culture that has been missing from their lives.

While some progress is being made, barriers remain and Māori remain over-represented in care and protection and youth justice interventions. Improving short-term and long-term outcomes will require tough decisions about where to prioritise services across government agencies. It will require sharing power through delegation and sharing funding with those that are best placed to meet the needs of tamariki and rangatahi Māori and their whānau.

The cost of intergenerational involvement in the system is high for individuals and whānau experiencing it and also for the state. Working differently is a significant part of the solution. Some of the initiatives we have seen show there is benefit in government agencies staying at the table while allowing others to lead.

The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care was a look into the past at the lifelong consequences of abuse in care. At another level, not a month goes by without another report citing intergenerational trauma or neglect by state agencies to provide the help needed earlier in a person’s life. A recent judgment cited three generations of involvement in state care, and tamariki were still being neglected. This is a system-wide failure not just of one child but of generations of whānau. Getting the right support in place at the right time will be the beginning of reversing this trend.

Arran Jones
Tumu Whakarae | Chief Executive

Nova Banaghan
Tumu Aroturuki | Chief Monitor

It is with a profound sense of responsibility and commitment that we present this inaugural report from Aroturuki TamarikiCloseTamariki
Children (plural) aged 0-13 yearsView the full glossary on outcomes for tamariki and rangatahiCloserangatahi
Young person aged 14 – 21 years of ageView the full glossary Māori and 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 in the oranga tamariki system. This report is a reflection of the realities faced by whānau involved in this system, drawing from past experiences and current challenges. We will not forget the harm caused to our whānau, and we will not rest until every mokopuna (grandchild, descendant) is supported in environments that nurture their whakapapa, mauri (life force) and potential for greatness.

We all want our mokopuna to feel safe and loved, fostering connections to their whānau and hapori (community). This should be the norm for all families in AotearoaCloseAotearoa
New ZealandView the full glossary New Zealand. Recognising whakapapa is essential to wellbeing, creating connection and affirming identity regardless of origin. For Māori, as an indigenous population it has even more emphasis in the sense of self, whānau and hapori. All whānau deserve to be treated with fairness, care, and a commitment to safe practices. Oranga Tamariki must create an environment conducive to achieving the best possible outcomes for all.

The oranga tamariki system is failing to deliver equal outcomes for Māori. Numerous reports and evaluations affirm that Māori experience systemic inequalities, and the data presented in this report reinforces this. Broader socio-economic factors such as racism, poverty, and lack of access to adequate justice, health, education, housing and employment have not been sufficiently addressed by Government policies. The disparities impact whānau daily.

The state is falling short. Since the release of the Pūao-Te-Ata-Tū report in 1988 and the establishment of Oranga Tamariki in 2017, meaningful progress has been insufficient. We have waited too long for change.

The over-representation of Māori, as shown in the data in this report, is unacceptable. Our mokopuna are more likely to become involved in the system, face escalated proceedings and remain longer in care than other groups. If they must enter care, it is critical that they emerge stronger and safer – an outcome not being realised for too many of our mokopuna.

We urged Aroturuki Tamariki to maintain key outcome measures over the next decade to build upon the data and trend analysis presented in this report and continuously develop its monitoring practice. These pou will track trends and impacts on tamariki and rangatahi Māori in the oranga tamariki system.

We were clear that we wanted Aroturuki Tamariki to analyse data concerning those who have been involved with Oranga Tamariki or its predecessors and have passed away. This is a heavy burden to bear, but understanding this loss from an intergenerational perspective is vital for driving change as we reflect on the findings of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.

We aspire to reduce involvement in the system while focusing on intergenerational wellbeing. The cycle of whānau involvement with Oranga Tamariki can be disrupted through the strengths of hapūClosehapū
Sub-tribeView the full glossary, iwiCloseiwi
TribeView the full glossary and Māori organisations. Throughout this report, the monitoring visits show that these entities hold some of the solutions needed to enhance the oranga tamariki system, with examples of iwi and Māori organisations implementing transformative initiatives providing holistic and timely support to whānau. Research and evaluations consistently demonstrate this approach works.

We remain deeply concerned about ongoing changes to the system that undermine effective and fair practices for our mokopuna. Some of these changes threaten to perpetuate years of disadvantage within hapori. Divestment, including recent funding cuts and changes to contracts, exacerbates vulnerabilities, eroding safety and essential services. Without adequate support our mokopuna are left exposed. Addressing these challenges is imperative to ensure equitable and compassionate support for our mokopuna. Only through systemic change and funding aligned with te ao MāoriClosete ao Māori
The Māori worldView the full glossary can we create a flourishing environment.

This report highlights critical decision points for tamariki and rangatahi Māori, and some pave the way for either positive or adverse outcomes. Early intervention is crucial and must be prioritised by Government policy. More can be done to support whānau before involvement with Oranga Tamariki, reducing the likelihood of interaction with the system. The link between care and protection and youth justice cannot be denied. While the number of Māori involved in youth justice is small, they represent a disproportionate number, and there is significant room for improvement to avert negative outcomes.

We recognise that the political environment affects the pace and likelihood of necessary change, including critical legislation change such as the repeal of section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act. Te Tiriti o Waitangi will remain a fundamental guiding principle as we evaluate the Crown’s obligations and the system’s performance.

Moving forward, any new approaches to social investment must prioritise the voices and needs of tamariki and rangatahi Māori and their whānau at the centre of decision making.

Our reflection is that this report is somewhat like he matapihi ki te ao āwhiowhio (a window into the whirlwind). Together, let us remain steadfast in our commitment to advocating for whānau and monitoring a broken system. It is time to ensure that all tamariki and rangatahi Māori have the opportunity to thrive and achieve their full potential, grounded in love, safety and connection to their whānau. The future of our communities depends on the actions we take today. It’s make or break time – ināia tonu nei (right now) – make the time now for change!

Te KāhuiCloseKāhui
To flock, to herd, to cluster and so denotes a groupView the full glossary, Māori Advisory Group to Aroturuki Tamariki

Tā Mark Solomon
Katie Murray
Eugene Ryder
Enid Ratahi-Pryor
Wayne Blissett
Dee-Ann Wolferstan

He whakamihi | Acknowledgements

Foreword

Statement from Te Kāhui

Contents

Key findings

Our approach to this report

Our approach to assessing outcomes for tamariki and rangatahi Māori and their whānau

Agency data

The voices of tamariki and rangatahi Māori and their whānau

The oranga tamariki system

About tamariki and rangatahi Māori in the oranga tamariki system

Outcome indicators for tamariki and rangatahi Māori in the oranga tamariki system

What tamariki and rangatahi Māori say about their lives and future

Despite their hopes and aspirations these are not always realised

Māori who were involved in the oranga tamariki system as children often have worse outcomes than those who were not

Our pou for future reports

How Oranga Tamariki works with tamariki and rangatahi Māori and their whānau

How strategic partners make a difference

Te Rūnanga-Ā-Iwi-O-Ngāpuhi

Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated

Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira

Oranga Tamariki is building cultural capability

We heard that building cultural capability is starting to make a difference for tamariki and rangatahi Māori and their whānau

Funding and contracts delivering services for tamariki and rangatahi Māori and their whānau

Oranga Tamariki funds services for tamariki, rangatahi, and whānau

How tamariki and rangatahi Māori and their whānau move through the oranga tamariki system

Reports of concern and early intervention

Receiving a report of concern is a key decision point for Oranga Tamariki and an opportunity to respond

Tamariki and rangatahi Māori are disproportionately represented in reports of concern to Oranga Tamariki

Reports of concern are not always addressed in the way people expect

Family group conferences

The FGC is a legislated hui for whānau and professionals to come together and make decisions in the best interests of tamariki and rangatahi

Māori are more likely to have reports of concern that progress to FGCs than non-Māori

Oranga Tamariki kaimahi have mixed views on the use of care and protection FGCs

Tamariki, rangatahi and whānau Māori had a range of experiences of being included in FGCs

It is even harder for the voice of disabled tamariki and rangatahi to be heard

We heard about challenges in agreeing to plans, and professionals not feeling heard

Following up and delivering FGC plans is difficult due to a lack of funding and available supports

Subsequent youth justice FGCs may have decreased impact

Youth justice intervention

Tamariki and rangatahi Māori are over-represented

Tamariki and rangatahi who offend are likely to have unmet care and protection needs

There are opportunities to better support tamariki and rangatahi early on and before they offend

Tamariki and rangatahi Māori are over-represented in police proceedings

Holistic support for tamariki and rangatahi can make a difference and prevent escalation through the youth justice system

The youth justice delegation with Rangitāne o Manawatū shows what can be achieved through a partnered approach

Kotahi te Whakaaro shows how organisations can successfully work together to address youth offending

Improving the response to care and protection needs can prevent escalation into youth justice

Glossary

Appendix One: Regional data

Appendix Two: Using data from the IDI and What About Me? survey

Appendix Three: NZ Police data used in this report

Appendix Four: Resources and getting help