Outcomes for tamariki and rangatahi Māori and their whānau | in the oranga tamariki system

A report on the performance of the oranga tamariki system

Summary

The Oversight of the Oranga Tamariki System Act requires us to report annually on outcomes for tamariki
Children (plural) aged 0-13 yearsView the full glossary and rangatahi
Young person aged 14 – 21 years of ageView the full glossary Māori 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 in the oranga tamariki system. This is the second of these reports.

The Act defines the oranga tamariki system as responsible for providing services and support to tamariki and rangatahi and their whānau under, or in connection with, the Oranga Tamariki Act.

This report looks at:

the extent to which tamariki and rangatahi Māori are over-represented in the oranga tamariki system and the extent to which disparities exist between Māori and non-Māori
outcome indicators for tamariki and rangatahi Māori currently involved with Oranga Tamariki
outcome indicators for rangatahi Māori aged 18–25 and for Māori adults aged 27–30 who were involved in the oranga tamariki system as children
how services and supports are delivered to tamariki and rangatahi Māori and their whānau in the oranga tamariki system
how these services and supports were disrupted by funding and contract changes in 2024/25
data practices.

We found that more must be done to respond to the needs of tamariki and rangatahi Māori to address the impact of over-representation in the oranga tamariki system.

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Outcomes for tamariki and rangatahi Māori and their whānau 2024/25

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Publication Date: 09/06/2026
Category: Outcomes for Māori
ISBN: 3021-4009
ISSN: 3021-3991

He mihi

Tēnei te mihi nui atu ki ngā tamariki
Children (plural) aged 0-13 yearsView the full glossary me ngā rangatahi
Young person aged 14 – 21 years of ageView the full glossary Māori katoa me ō rātou 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 i tuku kōrero
Conversation or discussionView the full glossary mai ki a mātou i roto i ā mātou kōrerorero tahi i roto i ngā rohe.

Ka mihi hoki ki ngā tautoko me ngā whakaaro o ngā māngai o ngā hapū
Sub-tribeView the full glossary, ngā iwi
TribeView the full glossary, ngā hoa pātui rautaki, ngā whakahaere Māori me ngā kaimahi a ngā whakahaere kāwanatanga-kore me ngā tari kāwanatanga.

E whakanui ana mātou i te hunga nā rātou ngā raraunga me ngā mōhiohio i whakamahia i tēnei pūrongo. Kei muri i ia tatauranga ko ngā tāngata me ō rātou wheako.

Hei whakamutu ake, e mihi ana ki a koutou katoa kei roto i tēnei wā, i uru mai rānei i mua, ki te pūnaha oranga tamariki.

Acknowledgements

We express our appreciation for all the tamariki
Children (plural) aged 0-13 yearsView the full glossary and rangatahi
Young person aged 14 – 21 years of ageView the full glossary Māori 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 who shared their experiences freely with us during our regional engagements.

We also acknowledge the contributions and perspectives of representatives from hapū
Sub-tribeView the full glossary, iwi
TribeView the full glossary, strategic partners and Māori organisations and from kaimahi of non-government organisations and government agencies.

We recognise all those whose data and information have been used in this report. Behind every statistic are people and their experiences.

Lastly, we acknowledge all those who are currently involved, or have ever been involved, in the oranga tamariki system.

Kupu whakataki

Koinei tā mātou pūrongo pūnaha whānui ā-tau tuarua mō te whānuitanga e whakarato hua ana te pūnaha oranga tamariki mō ngā tamariki
Children (plural) aged 0-13 yearsView the full glossary me ngā rangatahi
Young person aged 14 – 21 years of ageView the full glossary Māori me ō rātou 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. I tua atu i ā mātou tohu whakaatu hua, e titiro ana tēnei pūrongo o te tau 2024/25 mēnā kei te tutuki ngā hiahia o ngā tamariki me ngā rangatahi Māori i roto i te pūnaha oranga tamariki e ai ki ngā mea tauiwi.

E ōrite ana ngā kitenga o tēnei pūrongo ki tā mātou pūrongo onāianei, E koke ana ki tētahi whakaruruhau kia kore ai e tūkinotia ngā tamariki, ā, i kitea ina uru tau mai ngā tamariki ki te aroaro o te karauna, he arawātea hei āwhina – he arawātea hoki ka tāhapatia i ētahi wā. Mēnā i te mahi
WorkView the full glossary tika te kūaha o mua o te pūnaha whakamaru tamariki, ka wawe tonu te tuku i ngā tautoko tika. Kua kore e uru hōhonu atu ngā tamariki Māori ki te pūnaha nā te korenga e tutuki o ō rātou hiahia.

Mārama te kitea o te korenga e tutuki o ngā hiahia manaaki me te whakamaru i roto i ngā raraunga mō ngā rangatahi Māori kei roto i te ture taiohi. I kite mātou 95 ōrau o ngā rangatahi Māori i roto i te ture taiohi i puta he pūrongo māharahara mō tō rātou haumaru, oranga rānei i a rātou e tamariki ana. Mō te haurua o rātou 10 ngā pūrongo māharahara mō tō rātou haumaru, oranga rānei.

He nui ngā rawa – me te aro nui atu – ka whakapaua ki ngā mahi taihara. Mā te aro nui ake ki te whakarite i ngā hiahia manaaki me te whakamaru i te tuatahi ka whakaiti pea i te hiahia o ngā urupare ture taiohi ā muri ake. Ko ngā mea whaitake e rongo ana mātou ko ngā rongoā e whai wāhi atu ngā tamariki me ō rātou whānau me te whakarite wawe i ngā hiahia. Ko ēnei ratonga he torowhānui mahi kaua te aro nui ki ngā hiahia takitahi motuhake mai i ētahi atu e pātata atu ana. Kei roto i tēnei pūrongo ko ngā tauira o ētahi o ēnei ratonga. Ko te wero me pēhea e neke kē atu ai ēnei ki tua atu i ngā tauira me ngā whakamātau.

Kua kōrerohia ngā rongoā mō ngā tau maha. Pērā i te aronga haumitanga, ngā tauira whakahau e taea ai te ngāwari ake, me ngā rongoā ka puta i ngā iwi
TribeView the full glossary, i te Māori, i ngā hapori hoki e noho ai te kāwanatanga ki te tautoko kaua ki te ārahi. Ko te pātai nui he auau te arohia, he aha e kore ai e taea e te kāwanatanga ngā huringa te koke ki te taumata e hiahiatia ana – me te tere e whaihua ai ngā ao o ngā tamariki me ngā rangatahi i tēnei rā.

Me tere ake ngā huringa kia heke ai ngā āhuatanga manarite-kore me te whakaiti i te whai wāhi tuku iho o ngā tamariki me ngā rangatahi Māori me ō rātou whānau ki te pūnaha oranga tamariki.

Arran Jones
Tumu Whakarae

Foreword

This is our second annual system-wide report on the extent to which the oranga tamariki system is delivering outcomes for tamariki
Children (plural) aged 0-13 yearsView the full glossary and rangatahi
Young person aged 14 – 21 years of ageView the full glossary Māori 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. In addition to our outcome indicators, this report for 2024/25 looks at whether the needs of tamariki and rangatahi Māori in the oranga tamariki system are being met compared to non-Māori.

The findings of this report are consistent with our recent report, Towards a stronger safety net to prevent abuse of children, which found that, when tamariki come to the attention of the state, it is an opportunity to help – and an opportunity that is sometimes missed. If the front door to the child protection system was working as needed, the right support would be provided at the earliest opportunity. Tamariki Māori would not unnecessarily escalate through the system because of unmet need.

The consequence of unmet care and protection needs is evident in the data about rangatahi Māori who are involved in youth justice. We found 95 percent of rangatahi Māori involved in youth justice had a report of concern made about their safety or wellbeing when they were younger. Half of them had more than 10 reports of concern made about their safety or wellbeing.

A lot of resource – and attention – goes into dealing with the offending behaviour. A greater focus on addressing care and protection needs earlier may reduce the need for youth justice responses in the future.

What we hear works are solutions that include tamariki and their whānau and address needs early. These are services that work in a holistic way rather than looking at individual needs in isolation from those around them. This report includes examples of some of these services. The challenge is how these can move beyond pilots and prototypes.

The solutions have been talked about for decades. These include an investment approach, commissioning models that allow for greater flexibility and iwi
TribeView the full glossary, Māori and community-led solutions where government takes a supporting rather than leading role. The question we keep coming back to is why the state is unable to progress change to the degree that is needed – and at a pace that will make a difference to the lives of tamariki and rangatahi today.

Faster change is needed if we are to see disparities reduce and a reduction in intergenerational involvement in the oranga tamariki system for tamariki and rangatahi Māori and their whānau.

Arran Jones
Tumu Whakarae | Chief Executive

Tauākī a Te Kāhui

E whakatakotohia ana e mātou te pūrongo ā-tau tuarua mō ngā hua mō ngā tamariki
Children (plural) aged 0-13 yearsView the full glossary me ngā rangatahi
Young person aged 14 – 21 years of ageView the full glossary Māori me ō rātou 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 kei roto i te pūnaha oranga tamariki.

Kua puta ētahi whanaketanga mai i te pūrongo ā-tau tuatahi o tērā tau, otirā ko te whakaae a te Kāwanatanga ki ngā tūtohutanga o te pūrongo a Kahurangi Karen Poutasi. I ēnei tau kua pahure nei, he nui tonu ngā tamariki i mate i Aotearoa
New ZealandView the full glossary nā te tūkino, te kōhuru, whara kino, mahi
WorkView the full glossary kino rānei a tētahi tangata ko tōna tikanga
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 i te tiaki kē i a rātou.

He nui rawa te kitea o ngā tamariki i roto i ēnei. Koinei te hua tino o tētahi pūnaha kāore i manaaki pai i ngā tamariki me ngā whānau.

Koinei mātou e hiahia ana kia whakarerekēhia tēnei kia whakaitia ngā āhuatanga manaritekore me te whakapai ake i ngā hua mō ngā tamariki, ngā rangatahi me ngā whānau Māori. Koinei te take he huhua ngā iwi
TribeView the full glossary me ngā kaiwhakarato Māori kua uru mai ki te tautoko i ngā whānau.

Ka aroha kē te pānui i tēnei pūrongo. E whakaatu ana he kino kē atu te āhua o ngā tamariki me ngā rangatahi Māori kei roto i te pūrongo oranga tamariki i ngā tauiwi. He tino kē atu hoki i ngā Māori kāore i roto i te pūnaha.

He tino nui kē te kaha o ētahi o ēnei rerekētanga. Ahakoa ehara pea ko te pūnaha te pūtake o ngā hua kino nei, kei roto i a ia anō te kaha ki te hāpai i a rātou.

Ko Oranga Tamariki te matua i raro i te ture mō ngā tamariki me ngā rangatahi i Aotearoa āhua 5,000, 70 ōrau he Māori. Ki te kore e tiakina e ētahi atu mātua i Aotearoa ā rātou ake tamariki, rangatahi hoki, he kore manaaki tērā.

Me mātua here a Oranga Tamariki mō āna whakatau. He whānui rawa te takahi a te pūnaha, ā, ko te mutunga atu ka nui rawa te uru mai o te Māori me te nui ake o ngā āhuatanga manarite-kore.

Kua tīmata te kite i ngā painga i roto i tēnei pūrongo – ngā tauira o ngā kaupapa Māori me te āhua pea o āpōpō. Kua ara ake ngā iwi me ngā kaiwhakarato Māori, ā, kei te aro ki te āpōpō. Ko ā rātou tamariki me ō rātou whānau ēnei, ā, e kore e taea e rātou te huri tuarā.

Me mātua mārama a Oranga Tamariki me pēhea e whaitake ai ngā kaiwhakarato me te whakarite kei te whiwhi rātou i ngā rawa, ngā utauta me ngā pūmanawa tōtika kia whaihua ai, ā, kia pai ake hoki. He mea hira tēnei mō te taha ki ngā whakatau pūtea me ngā huringa, me te neke o ētahi ratonga ki ngā tari rāngai tūmatanui. Ki te kore e tautokona ngā iwi me ngā kaiwhakarato Māori kia urupare ki ngā huringa, ka pā tērā ki tō rātou kaha ki te tautoko i ngā tamariki, ngā rangatahi me ō rātou whānau. Ko te utu o tēnei ko ngā ratonga me ngā tautoko i hangaia kia kore ai e pā mai te tūkinotanga me te kore e uru ki raro i te maru karauna. Koinei te mahi uaua ko te tikanga e mahia ana e ngā iwi me ngā kaiwhakarato Māori.

Kaua rawa ēnei mahi e tāhapa. Kaua rawa tātou e tuku kia ngaro ēnei kaiwhakarato pai.

Ko te Māori te hunga whai pānga nui rawa i roto i te pūnaha oranga tamariki, engari kāore tēnei i te kitea i roto i te tohanga o ngā rawa. Ko te pātai he aha e kore ai e hāngai te haumitanga o te pūnaha ki ngā wāhi he nui te hiahia.

Ko ngā arawātea kei roto i ngā rangapū mahitahi me ngā kaupapa kua kōrerohia i roto i tēnei pūrongo. He ōkawa, he whakaaetanga ā-ture ngā rangapū mahi tahi rautaki me tōtika te mahi.

Ka āwhina ēnei kia eke ai i a Oranga Tamariki ōna herenga i raro i Te Tiriti o Waitangi, tae atu ki tōna whakaū i te hononga o te tamaiti ki tōna whakapapa. Me whāwhai i te mea koinei te mahi tika mō te oranga o ā tātou tamariki, rangatahi hoki, nō reira ko te tūmanako ka ara mai te anga rangapū mahi tahi hou ki whai i tēnei wero.

Ka whakahōnoretia rātou kua mene ki te pō. Ka whakahōnoretia hoki rātou i uru atu ki te pūnaha oranga tamariki, i pā ki ngā āhuatanga kāore i eke ki tērā e tika ana. Mō te tokomaha, ko te kahupō tōna mutunga atu.

E akiaki mātou me pai ake. Me nui ake ngā painga me poipoi i roto i te pūnaha oranga tamariki e tautoko ana i ō tātou whānau. E whakaatu ana tēnei pūrongo he roa ake te ara ki reira.

Wayne Blissett
Heamana, Te Kāhui
To flock, to herd, to cluster and so denotes a groupView the full glossary | Te Rōpū Tohutohu Māori mō Aroturuki Tamariki

Statement from Te Kāhui

We present the second annual report on outcomes for tamariki
Children (plural) aged 0-13 yearsView the full glossary and rangatahi
Young person aged 14 – 21 years of ageView the full glossary Māori 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 involved in the oranga tamariki system.

There have been some developments since last year’s inaugural report, notably the Government’s acceptance of Dame Karen Poutasi’s report recommendations. In the last few years alone, Aotearoa
New ZealandView the full glossary has seen many more tamariki die because of confirmed or suspected abuse, homicide, non-accidental injury or maltreatment by a person who was supposed to be caring for them.

Tamariki Māori are among them at disproportionally high rates. This is the ultimate outcome of a system that does not serve tamariki and whānau well.

It is for this reason we want to see change that reduces disparities and improves outcomes for tamariki, rangatahi and whānau Māori. It is for this reason that so many iwi
TribeView the full glossary and Māori providers have stepped up to support whānau.

This report makes for sobering reading. It shows tamariki and rangatahi Māori involved with the oranga tamariki system are generally worse off than non-Māori. They are also worse off than Māori who are not involved with the system.

Some of these differences are stark. While the system may not be the cause of poor outcomes, it has the opportunity to turn lives around.

Oranga Tamariki is the legal parent of some 5,000 tamariki and rangatahi in Aotearoa, 70 percent of whom are Māori. If other parents in Aotearoa failed to support their own tamariki and rangatahi in the same way, we would call it neglect.

Oranga Tamariki must be accountable for its decisions. The system continues to over-reach, which leads to Māori being over-represented and experiencing further disparities.

There is evidence of green shoots in this report – examples of Māori-centred approaches and what the future might look like. Iwi and Māori providers are mobilised and focused on the future. These are their tamariki and whānau and they simply cannot walk away from them.

Oranga Tamariki must understand how providers make a difference and ensure they have the resources, tools and capability to measure their impact and are ready for change. This is particularly important as funding decisions and changes are made and some services shift to other public sector agencies. If iwi and Māori providers are not supported to respond to change, their ability to support tamariki, rangatahi and their whānau will be affected. This will be at the cost of services and supports designed to prevent harm from occurring and prevent entry into care. This is the hard end of the work that iwi and Māori providers often do.

We can’t let this work drop off. We can’t lose good providers.

Māori are the biggest stakeholders in the oranga tamariki system, but resource allocation does not reflect this. We ask why the system’s investment is not following and matching where there is the most need.

Opportunities exist through strategic partnerships and initiatives highlighted in this report. Strategic partnerships are formal, legislated agreements that need to be working as intended.

They help Oranga Tamariki meet its te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations, including honouring a child’s relationship to whakapapa. Urgency is needed because it’s the right thing to do for the wellbeing of our tamariki and rangatahi, so we hope the new partnership framework meets this challenge.

We honour the lives that have been lost. We honour all those who have been through the oranga tamariki system, experiencing a life that is not as good as it should have been. For many, this has led to a poverty of spirit.

We urge change. We want to see the oranga tamariki system nurture more green shoots that support our whānau. This report shows that there is a long way to go.

Wayne Blissett
Chairperson, Te Kāhui
To flock, to herd, to cluster and so denotes a groupView the full glossary | Māori Advisory Group to Aroturuki Tamariki

He mihi | Acknowledgements
Kupu Whakataki | Foreword
Tauākī a Te Kāhui | Statement from Te Kāhui
Ngā kitenga matua
Key findings
Our approach to this report
Our pou
About tamariki and rangatahi Māori in the oranga tamariki system

Over-representation of Māori in the oranga tamariki system

Over-representation increases as tamariki and rangatahi Māori move deeper into the oranga tamariki system

Almost a quarter of tamariki
Children (plural) aged 0-13 yearsView the full glossary and rangatahi
Young person aged 14 – 21 years of ageView the full glossary Māori who had a report of concern in 2024/25 had 10 or more previous reports made
Critical and very urgent reports of concern for tamariki and rangatahi Māori have less timely responses
Māori are more likely to have reports of concern progress to care and protection family group conferences
Tamariki and rangatahi Māori are more likely to be in state care or youth justice custody than non-Māori
Tamariki and rangatahi Māori are proceeded against more by Police than non-Māori
Tamariki and rangatahi Māori are proceeded against at a younger age
Tamariki and rangatahi Māori are more likely to have a youth justice intervention

Over-representation compounds the impact on tamariki and rangatahi Māori in care

Compliance with the NCS Regulations
(National Care Standards and Related Matters) Regulations 2018 View the full glossary in some key areas is poorer for Māori

Outcomes for tamariki and rangatahi Māori in the oranga tamariki system

Outcome indicators for tamariki and rangatahi Māori aged 0–17
Outcome indicators for Māori aged 18–25
Outcome indicators for Māori aged 27–30
There are disparities in outcomes between Māori and non-Māori involved in the oranga tamariki system

How the system meets the needs of tamariki and rangatahi Māori

The oranga tamariki system is not always intervening early enough with the right services and support

Earlier care and protection intervention could prevent later youth justice involvement
Government’s focus is on reducing serious and persistent offending

Some things are getting in the way of providing effective services and supports that prevent escalation

Care and protection FGCs are not always enabling services and support to be provided
Sometimes services and supports are promised but not delivered
There are barriers to successful delivery of youth justice intervention services

Some services and supports are making a difference

Some 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 Māori had positive experiences accessing services and supports
Mentors and programmes help tamariki and rangatahi Māori in youth justice

How iwi and Māori providers are delivering for tamariki, rangatahi Māori and their whānau

Mahuru delivers youth justice intervention in a rangatahi-centred way
Hapori is led by Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira in partnership with other providers and is reducing reports of concern
Te Pūkāea o te Waiora provides a local alternative to the National Contact Centre

How strategic partnerships are making a difference

Oranga Tamariki has 10 strategic partnerships in place.
The Eastern Bay Iwi
TribeView the full glossary Provider Alliance was in place before the strategic partnership
Ngāpuhi Iwi Social Services wants to see a long-term plan from Oranga Tamariki
Te Rūnanga O Toa Rangatira remains committed to working collectively in the rohe to support whānau wellbeing

The impact of Oranga Tamariki changes to funding and contracts

Challenges with funding and contracting are longstanding
Oranga Tamariki was under pressure to reduce funding

Oranga Tamariki contract management was in disarray

Funding decisions and poor communication undermined relationships, trust and workforce stability
Funding cuts worsened service availability and increased waitlists for tamariki
Children (plural) aged 0-13 yearsView the full glossary and rangatahi
Young person aged 14 – 21 years of ageView the full glossary

Oranga Tamariki started to address the funding and contracting situation in 2025

The true extent of loss after the Oranga Tamariki funding cuts is difficult to ascertain
Oranga Tamariki acknowledged deficiencies and reversed some decisions
Oranga Tamariki intends to have new contracts in place by early 2027