Outcomes for tamariki and rangatahi Māori in the oranga tamariki system

Many factors contribute to tamariki
Children (plural) aged 0-13 yearsView the full glossary and rangatahi
Young person aged 14 – 21 years of ageView the full glossary involvement in the oranga tamariki system. Outcomes are not necessarily caused by involvement in the oranga tamariki system, and it is not our intention to attribute outcomes to any one factor or to the actions of any one agency.

However, when tamariki, rangatahi 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 become known to the oranga tamariki system and the state becomes involved, it has an obligation to take actions to improve outcomes for them.

To help understand how life is going for tamariki and rangatahi Māori and adult Māori who are or have been involved in the oranga tamariki system, we look at a range of outcome indicators, including for those with a recognised disability.54 These indicators were developed for our 2023/24 Outcomes for Māori report following consultation with Oranga Tamariki strategic partners, iwi
TribeView the full glossary and Māori organisations and guidance from Te Kāhui
To flock, to herd, to cluster and so denotes a groupView the full glossary, our Māori Advisory Group.

The outcome indicators offer insights about tamariki, rangatahi and adults. The indicators also help identify potential gaps and opportunities in the oranga tamariki system where fit-for-purpose services and supports for tamariki and rangatahi Māori could lead to better outcomes and lives. This can also avoid later financial and social costs.

We use these indicators to compare outcomes for Māori who were not involved with Oranga Tamariki (or its predecessors) with Māori who have had involvement at varying levels.

Appendix Two has further information about the use of the IDI and the outcome indicators in this report, including definitions.

Outcome indicators for tamariki and rangatahi Māori aged 0–17

These outcome indicators are 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 aged 0–17 in 202355 and include health and education indicators. These indicators help us understand how life is going for tamariki and rangatahi Māori who were recently involved in the oranga tamariki system and may still be involved. We compare this with tamariki and rangatahi Māori who have not been involved in the system.

Our 2023/24 Outcomes for Māori report provided a baseline for our outcome indicators. There are some changes highlighted across the two years of data.56

The outcome indicators are grouped by level of involvement in the system.57

Health outcome indicators

Rangatahi Māori involved with Oranga Tamariki used mental health and addiction services at higher rates
No Oranga Tamariki involvement 6%
Care and protection intervention 22%
Care and protection custody 31%
Youth justice intervention 42%
Youth justice custody 83%

This outcome indicator shows rates of secondary public mental health and addiction service use for rangatahi Māori aged 14–17 in 2023. This data does not tell us about the demand for mental health and addiction services.

It shows that over 80 percent of rangatahi Māori in youth justice custody used mental health and addiction services.

Data from our 2023/24 Outcomes for Māori report and this report is not directly comparable.58

Disabled rangatahi Māori involved with Oranga Tamariki used mental health and addiction services at higher rates
No Oranga Tamariki involvement Care and protection and/or youth justice intervention Care or custody
Disability indicated Disability not indicated Disability indicated Disability not indicated Disability indicated Disability not indicated
8% 2% 21% 7% 21% 19%

This outcome indicator shows rates of secondary public mental health and addiction service use by rangatahi Māori aged 14–17 with a disability indicated in 2023. This data does not tell us about the demand for mental health and addiction services. 

It shows that:

  • disabled rangatahi Māori aged 14–17 used secondary public mental health and addiction services at a higher rate than those without a disability indicated
  • disabled rangatahi Māori in care or custody used mental health and addiction services over three times more than those with no Oranga Tamariki involvement
  • the more involvement disabled rangatahi Māori have with Oranga Tamariki, the higher the rates of mental health and addiction services use.
Tamariki and rangatahi Māori involved with youth justice saw their GP at lower rates
No Oranga Tamariki involvement 71%
Care and protection intervention 69%
Care and protection custody 69%
Youth justice intervention 58%
Youth justice custody 53%

This outcome indicator shows rates at which tamariki and rangatahi Māori aged 0–17 saw their GP in 2023. The data does not show demand or need for a GP visit.

It shows that:

  • those involved in care and protection and those with no Oranga Tamariki involvement saw their GP at similar rates
  • tamariki and rangatahi Māori involved with youth justice had lower rates of seeing their GP than those in care and protection.59

This is similar to what we reported in 2023/24 with the exception of tamariki and rangatahi Māori in youth justice intervention. The percentage of tamariki and rangatahi Māori in youth justice intervention who saw their GP has decreased by 8 percentage points in a year.

Rangatahi Māori involved with Oranga Tamariki were hospitalised for self-harm at higher rates
Māori aged 15–17 hospitalised for self-harm
No Oranga Tamariki involvement 4 in 1,000
Receiving care and protection and/or youth justice intervention 34 in 1,000
In care or custody 30 in 1,000

This outcome indicator shows the rates at which rangatahi Māori aged 15–17 were hospitalised for self-harm in 2023. The data does not show actual rates of self-harm.

It shows that rangatahi Māori involved with Oranga Tamariki were hospitalised for self-harm at a rate eight times higher than those with no involvement.

This data is similar to what we reported in our 2023/24 Outcomes for Māori report.

Education outcome indicators

Primary/intermediate school attendance for tamariki Māori receiving intervention was lower than for tamariki with no involvement or for those in care or custody
  No Oranga Tamariki involvement Care and protection and/or youth justice intervention Care or custody
Regular attendance (90% attendance or higher) 49% 34% 56%
Chronic absence (less than 70% attendance) 10% 23% 11%

This outcome indicator shows the rates at which tamariki Māori regularly attended60 primary and intermediate school as well as rates of chronic absence in 2023.61

It shows that:

  • tamariki Māori receiving care and protection and/or youth justice intervention had lower rates of regular attendance and double the rate of chronic absence than those with no Oranga Tamariki involvement
  • tamariki Māori in care or custody had higher regular primary and intermediate attendance than those with no Oranga Tamariki involvement.

Regular attendance rates at primary and intermediate school increased for all groups shown above by at least 10 percentage points since our 2023/24 Outcomes for Māori report. The largest increase of attendance rate was for those with no Oranga Tamariki involvement.

Chronic absence rates for all groups decreased by at least 7 percentage points for the same period. The largest decrease in chronic absence was for those receiving an intervention.

Rangatahi Māori involved with Oranga Tamariki had lower attendance at secondary school
  No Oranga Tamariki involvement Care and protection intervention Care and protection custody Youth justice intervention Youth justice custody
Regular attendance (90% attendance or higher) 37% 22% 29% 11% 31%
Chronic absence (less than 70% attendance) 21% 43% 35% 66% 32%

This outcome indicator shows the rates at which rangatahi Māori regularly attended62 secondary school as well as rates for chronic absence in 2023.63

 This shows that rangatahi Māori in youth justice intervention attended secondary school much less frequently than those with no Oranga Tamariki involvement (regular attendance was three times lower).

It also shows that:

  • regular attendance for rangatahi Māori who attended secondary school increased for most groups since our 2023/24 Outcomes for Māori report
  • the rate stayed the same for those in care and protection custody
  • the largest increase in attendance was for those in youth justice custody. Chronic absence for all groups decreased slightly for the same period. The largest decrease of chronic absence was for those in youth justice custody.

Outcome indicators for Māori aged 18–25

These outcome indicators are for Māori aged 18–25 in 2023. These are new outcome indicators for the 2024/25 reporting period and include health, education and wider social and economic outcomes.

These indicators help us understand how life is going for those who may have recently exited the oranga tamariki system and may be receiving post-care support for their transition to adulthood. We use the indicators to compare data for Māori aged 18–25 who had no involvement in the system.

Some of the outcome indicators for Māori aged 18–25 show the difference between Māori who were in care or custody and eligible for Transition Support Services delivered by Oranga Tamariki64 and those who were not eligible. Tamariki
Children (plural) aged 0-13 yearsView the full glossary and rangatahi
Young person aged 14 – 21 years of ageView the full glossary who were not eligible for Transition Support Services are likely to have been in care for a short period of time or left care before the age of 15.

Our 2024/25 Experiences of Care in Aotearoa
New ZealandView the full glossary report has more information about Transition Support Services.65

Health outcome indicators

Māori aged 18–25 who had been in care or custody used mental health and addiction services four times more than those with no Oranga Tamariki involvement
No Oranga Tamariki involvement 5%
Care and protection and/or youth justice intervention 10%
Care or custody 21%

This outcome indicator shows the rates at which Māori aged 18–25 used secondary public mental health and addiction services in 2023. This data does not tell us about the demand for mental health services.

Māori aged 18–25 involved with Oranga Tamariki saw their GP at similar rates to those with no involvement
No Oranga Tamariki involvement 70%
Care and protection and/or youth justice intervention 69%
Care or custody 65%

This outcome indicator shows the rates at which Māori aged 18–25 saw their GP in 2023. The data does not show demand or need for a GP visit.

It shows that:

  • those involved with care and protection and/or youth justice intervention and those with no Oranga Tamariki involvement saw their GP at similar rates
  • the rate of seeing their GP for those who had been in care or custody was lower than those with no Oranga Tamariki involvement by 5 percentage points.
Disabled Māori aged 18–25 involved with Oranga Tamariki saw their GP at similar rates to those with no involvement
No Oranga Tamariki involvement 75%
Care and protection and/or youth justice intervention 74%
Care or custody 71%

This outcome indicator shows the rates at which disabled Māori aged 18–25 saw their GP in 2023. The data does not show demand or need for a GP visit.

It shows that disabled Māori aged 18–25 saw their GP at higher rates than non-disabled Māori aged 18–25.

Data also shows that disabled Māori aged 18–25 involved with Oranga Tamariki saw their GP at similar rates to non-disabled Māori aged 18–25 with no Oranga Tamariki involvement.

Māori aged 18–25 who had been in care or custody were hospitalised for self-harm at higher rates
Māori aged 18–25 hospitalised for self-harm
No Oranga Tamariki involvement 3 in 1,000
Receiving care and protection and/or youth justice intervention 7 in 1,000
In care or custody 18 in 1,000

This outcome indicator shows the rates at which rangatahi Māori aged 18–25 were hospitalised for self-harm in 2023. The data does not show actual rates of self-harm.

It shows that Māori aged 18–25 with Oranga Tamariki involvement were hospitalised for self-harm at a rate three times higher than those with no involvement.

Education outcome indicators

Rangatahi Māori involved with Oranga Tamariki had lower rates of qualification attainment
No Oranga Tamariki involvement 82%
Care and protection and/or youth justice intervention 60%
Care or custody 45%

This outcome indicator shows the rates at which rangatahi Māori attained a NZQCF level 2 or higher qualification by age 18.

It shows that rangatahi Māori who had been in care or custody attained a NZQCF level 2 or higher qualification at almost half the rate of those with no Oranga Tamariki involvement.

Wider social and economic outcome indicators

Less than a third of Māori aged 18–25 who had been in care or custody had a driver licence
No Oranga Tamariki involvement 64%
Care and protection and/or youth justice intervention 40%
Care or custody (ineligible for Transition Support Services)66 28%
Care or custody (eligible for Transition Support Services) 22%

This outcome indicator shows the rates at which Māori aged 18–25 had a driver licence. It also shows rates for Māori aged 18–25 who had been in care or custody depending on whether they were or were not eligible for Transition Support Services delivered by Oranga Tamariki.

It shows that:

  • Māori aged 18–25 who were involved with Oranga Tamariki had lower rates of having a driver licence than those with no involvement
  • the more involvement Māori aged 18–25 had with Oranga Tamariki, the lower their rates of having a driver licence
  • Māori aged 18–25 who had been in care or custody and were eligible for Transition Support Services had a driver licence at a third of the rate of those with no involvement with Oranga Tamariki.
Māori aged 18–25 who had been in care or custody received a main benefit at almost four times the rate of those with no Oranga Tamariki involvement
No Oranga Tamariki involvement 7%
Care and protection and/or youth justice intervention 18%
Care or custody (ineligible for Transition Support Services)66 26%
Care or custody (eligible for Transition Support Services) 27%

This outcome indicator shows the rates at which Māori aged 18–25 received a main benefit in 2023. It also shows rates for Māori aged 18–25 who had been in care or custody depending on whether they were eligible for Transition Support Services delivered by Oranga Tamariki.

Māori aged 18–25 involved with Oranga Tamariki had higher rates of emergency housing use
No Oranga Tamariki involvement 1%
Care and protection and/or youth justice intervention 7%
Care or custody (ineligible for Transition Support Services)66 18%
Care or custody (eligible for Transition Support Services) 22%

This outcome indicator shows the rates at which Māori aged 18–25 had time in emergency housing since turning 18. It also shows rates for Māori aged 18–25 who were in care or custody depending on whether they were eligible for Transition Support Services delivered by Oranga Tamariki.

It shows that Māori aged 18–25 who had been in care or custody and were eligible for Transition Support Services had the highest rate of emergency housing use, even though the role of Transition Support Services is to support rangatahi to transition to adulthood.

The data shows that:

  • one in five of them had used emergency housing compared to one in 100 of those who had no Oranga Tamariki involvement
  • their rate of emergency housing use was slightly higher than for those who had also been in care or custody but were ineligible for Transition Support Services.
Māori aged 18–25 involved with Oranga Tamariki had higher rates of imprisonment or home detention
No Oranga Tamariki involvement <1%
Care and protection and/or youth justice intervention 3%
Care or custody 17%

This outcome indicator shows the rates at which Māori aged 18–25 were imprisoned or in home detention since turning 18.

It shows that:

    • one in six Māori aged 18–25 who had been in care or custody were imprisoned at some point since turning 18
    • Māori aged 18–25 who had been in care or custody were imprisoned or in home detention at a rate almost 30 times more than those not involved with Oranga Tamariki.

Outcome indicators for Māori aged 27–30

These outcome indicators are for Māori adults aged 27–30 in 2023 and include health, education and wider social and economic outcomes. These indicators help us to understand how life is going for those who had some level of involvement in the oranga tamariki system67 when they were children (aged 0–18). This also helps us to understand long-term outcomes.

For almost every outcome indicator, we found the higher the level of involvement adults had with the oranga tamariki system as children, the worse the outcomes were at age 27–30.

Most of the outcome indicators in this report for Māori aged 27–30 were also in our 2023/24 Outcomes for Māori report.68 Some changes across the two years of data are highlighted.69

Heath outcome indicators

Māori who were in the oranga tamariki system as children used mental health and addiction services at higher rates
No Oranga Tamariki involvement 6%
Care and protection intervention 10%
Care and protection custody 21%
Youth justice intervention 18%
Youth justice custody 32%

This outcome indicator shows the rates at which Māori aged 27–30 used secondary public mental health and addiction services in 2023. This data does not tell us about the demand for mental health services.

It shows that:

  • a third of Māori aged 27–30 who were in youth justice custody as children used a mental health and addiction service
  • Māori adults with higher levels of involvement with the oranga tamariki system as children had higher rates of accessing mental health and addiction services.
Māori who were in care or custody as children were hospitalised for self-harm at higher rates
Māori aged 27–30 hospitalised for self-harm
No Oranga Tamariki involvement 2 in 1,000
Receiving care and protection and/or youth justice intervention 5 in 1,000
In care or custody 10 in 1,000

This outcome indicator shows the rates at which Māori aged 27–30 were hospitalised for self-harm in 2023. The data does not show actual rates of self-harm.

It shows that Māori adults who were in care or custody as children were hospitalised for self-harm at a rate five times higher than those with no involvement.

Education outcome indicators

Māori who were in the oranga tamariki system as children had fewer qualifications
Māori aged 27–30 (highest qualification)
  No Oranga Tamariki involvement Care and protection intervention Care and protection custody Youth justice intervention Youth justice custody
University 23% 8% 3% 2% S
Tertiary (level 4–6) 35% 33% 25% 24% 15%
Secondary (level 1–3) 38% 51% 60% 61% 69
No qualification 4% 8% 12% 13% 16%

This outcome indicator shows the rates at which Māori aged 27–30 had attained educational qualifications.

It shows that:

  • Māori adults with higher levels of involvement with the oranga tamariki system as children had fewer qualifications beyond secondary school
  • Māori who had been in youth justice custody had the lowest qualifications (with four times the rate of having no qualification than those with no system involvement)
  • there were so few Māori who were in youth justice custody who went on to have a university qualification at age 27–30 that this figure is suppressed.70

Wider social and economic outcome indicators

Māori who were in the oranga tamariki system as children had lower rates of having a driver licence
No Oranga Tamariki involvement 73%
Care and protection intervention 57%
Care and protection custody 41%
Youth justice intervention 46%
Youth justice custody 29%

This outcome indicator shows the rates at which Māori aged 27–30 had a driver licence.

It shows that:

  • Māori adults with higher levels of involvement with the oranga tamariki system had lower rates of having a driver licence
  • less than a third of Māori who were in youth justice custody as children had a driver licence.
Over a third of Māori who were in care and protection custody as children were supported by a main benefit
No Oranga Tamariki involvement 13%
Care and protection intervention 30%
Care and protection custody 38%
Youth justice intervention 30%
Youth justice custody 28%

This outcome indicator shows the rates at which Māori aged 27–30 had received a main benefit in 2023.71

It shows that Māori adults who were in care or custody as children had higher rates of receiving a main benefit than those with no oranga tamariki system involvement. Those who were in care and protection custody also had a higher rate of main benefit support than those who had been in youth justice custody.

Almost half of disabled Māori adults who were in care or custody as children were supported by a main benefit
No Oranga Tamariki involvement Care and protection and/or youth justice intervention Care or custody
Disability indicated Disability not indicated Disability indicated Disability not indicated Disability indicated Disability not indicated
17% 11% 36% 27% 44% 31%

This outcome indicator shows the rates at which Māori aged 27–30 with and without a disability indicated had received a main benefit in 2023.

It shows that disabled Māori adults with higher levels of involvement with the oranga tamariki system had higher rates of being supported by a main benefit.

Only a quarter of Māori who were in youth justice custody as children were in employment
No Oranga Tamariki involvement 69%
Care and protection intervention 53%
Care and protection custody 39%
Youth justice intervention 42%
Youth justice custody 24%

This outcome indicator shows the rates at which Māori aged 27–30 were in employment in 2023.

It shows that Māori adults with higher levels of involvement with the oranga tamariki system as children had lower rates of employment.

Māori who were involved in the oranga tamariki system as children had higher rates of emergency housing use
No Oranga Tamariki involvement 4%
Care and protection intervention 14%
Care and protection custody 28%
Youth justice intervention 19%
Youth justice custody 31%

This outcome indicator shows the rates at which Māori aged 27–30 had used emergency housing.

It shows that almost a third of Māori adults who were in youth justice custody as children had used emergency housing.

Māori who were involved in the oranga tamariki system as children had higher rates of imprisonment or home detention
No Oranga Tamariki involvement 3%
Care and protection intervention 7%
Care and protection custody 26%
Youth justice intervention 33%
Youth justice custody 74%

This outcome indicator shows the rates at which Māori aged 27–30 were imprisoned or in home detention at some point since turning 18.

It shows that:

  • three-quarters of Māori who were in youth justice custody as children had been imprisoned or in home detention
  • Māori adults with higher levels of involvement in the oranga tamariki system as children had higher rates of imprisonment.

There are disparities in outcomes between Māori and non-Māori involved in the oranga tamariki system

The outcome indicators in this section compare Māori with non-Māori who are or were involved in the oranga tamariki system. The section focuses on disparities in education (secondary school attendance and qualification attainment), driver licence attainment, employment and emergency housing. Outcomes are not necessarily caused by involvement in the oranga tamariki system, and it is not our intention to attribute outcomes to any one factor or to the actions of any one agency. 

It looks at three groups who, in 2023, were:

  • enrolled in secondary school and involved with Oranga Tamariki
  • aged 18–25 and had been involved with Oranga Tamariki
  • aged 27–30 and had been involved with the oranga tamariki system as children.

For those involved in the oranga tamariki system, most of the outcome indicators show poorer outcomes for Māori compared to non-Māori.72 

These outcome indicators offer insights into where services and supports could be focused 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 involved with Oranga Tamariki. They also offer insights into where services and supports could be focused for tamariki and rangatahi Māori to prevent deeper involvement in the system, including into the youth justice system. 

This information provides further context about the importance of being able to access services and supports designed around needs, which is explored further in this report. 

There were disparities in secondary school attendance for rangatahi involved with Oranga Tamariki in 2023

School attendance data is based on enrolments. There will be tamariki and rangatahi Māori who do not attend school at all because they are not enrolled and who are therefore not included in this data. In our regional engagements, we hear about some of the reasons why tamariki and rangatahi don’t and/or can’t enrol or attend school. These are covered in our Experiences of Care in Aotearoa
New ZealandView the full glossary reports. 

Regular attendance rates at secondary school were lower for Māori than non-Māori
Care and protection and/or
youth justice intervention		 Care or custody
Māori Non-Māori Māori Non-Māori
22% 32% 29% 41%

This outcome indicator shows the rates at which rangatahi involved with Oranga Tamariki regularly attended secondary school.

It shows disparity in secondary school regular attendance rates (attending at least 90 percent of the time) between rangatahi Māori and non-Māori involved with Oranga Tamariki.

Chronic absence rates were higher for Māori than non-Māori
Care and protection and/or
youth justice intervention		 Care or custody
Māori Non-Māori Māori Non-Māori
44% 30% 34% 29%

This outcome indicator shows the rates of chronic absence from secondary school for rangatahi involved with Oranga Tamariki.

It shows that rangatahi Māori involved with Oranga Tamariki had higher rates of chronic absence (attending for less than 70 percent of the time) from secondary school.

Māori in youth justice intervention had the highest rates of chronic absence from secondary school
Youth justice intervention
Māori Non-Māori
66% 48%

This outcome indicator shows the rates of chronic absence from secondary school for rangatahi receiving youth justice intervention.

It shows that:

  • there is a disparity in chronic absence rates between rangatahi Māori and non-Māori in youth justice intervention
  • rangatahi Māori in youth justice intervention had a significantly high rate of chronic absence73 from secondary school. The rate for Māori is 18 percentage points higher than non-Māori.

Those in youth justice intervention also had the lowest rates of secondary school attendance for rangatahi who were involved with Oranga Tamariki. This is for both Māori and non-Māori.

Qualification rates were lower for Māori rangatahi and adults

Fewer Māori aged 18 had NZQCF level 2 or higher qualifications than non-Māori
Care and protection and/or
youth justice intervention		 Care or custody
Māori Non-Māori Māori Non-Māori
60% 74% 45% 54%

This outcome indicator shows the rates of educational qualification held by rangatahi at age 18 who were involved with Oranga Tamariki.

It shows disparity in NZQCF level 2 or higher qualification rates between rangatahi Māori and non- Māori involved with Oranga Tamariki.

Fewer Māori aged 27–30 had qualifications at tertiary level and above than non-Māori
IDI outcomes data 2023
  Care and protection and/or
youth justice intervention		 Care or custody
  Māori Non-Māori Māori Non-Māori
Tertiary (level 4–6)74 31% 33% 23% 25%
University (level 7–10)75 7% 17% 2% 7%

This outcome indicator shows rates of educational qualification held by adults aged 27–30 who were involved in the oranga tamariki system as children.

It shows that:

  • a similar proportion of Māori and non-Māori achieved level 4–6 as their highest qualification
  • a smaller proportion of Māori held a university-level qualification than non-Māori.

Māori hold a driver licence at lower rates

Outside of the oranga tamariki system, Māori and non-Māori hold driver licences at a similar rate, with around 65 percent holding a driver licence.76 However, within the oranga tamariki system, there is a clear disparity, and this increases with deeper involvement in the system.

Every year in our regional engagements, we hear from rangatahi about how important it is to get a driver licence. It is important for independence, for securing employment, for “being legal” while driving and as a form of identification. Our 2024/25 Experiences of Care in Aotearoa report outlines how rangatahi in Oranga Tamariki care or custody can struggle to get their driver licence as they transition to adulthood.

Māori aged 18–25 involved with Oranga Tamariki hold a driver licence at lower rates than non-Māori
Care and protection and/or
youth justice intervention		 Care or custody
Māori Non-Māori Māori Non-Māori
40% 55% 26% 38%

This outcome indicator shows rates of holding a driver licence for those aged 18–25 who were involved with Oranga Tamariki.

When we look at those aged 27–30 who had been in care or custody as children, the rate of holding a licence is higher but the disparity is even more pronounced. Only 38 percent of Māori had a driver licence compared to 52 percent of non-Māori.

In every region, Māori aged 18–25 held a driver licence at lower rates than non-Māori, but the difference was greater in some regions than others77
Held a driver licence in 2023
  Māori – past involvement with Oranga Tamariki Non-Māori – past involvement with Oranga Tamariki
Auckland 32% 45%
Bay of Plenty and Central Plateau 37% 61%
Canterbury 44% 60%
Greater Wellington 40% 51%
Hawke's Bay and East Coast 41% 59%
Lower South Island 52% 62%
Taranaki and Manawatū 42% 59%
Te Tai Tokerau 35% 61%
Upper South Island 47% 60%
Waikato 36% 61%

This outcome indicator shows regional rates of holding a driver licence in 2023 for those aged 18–25 involved with Oranga Tamariki.

This data shows that, in all regions, Māori aged 18–25 who were involved with Oranga Tamariki held a driver licence at lower rates than non-Māori.

The disparities were less pronounced in the Lower South Island and Greater Wellington regions. Practice in these regions may indicate how to better support rangatahi Māori to gain a driver licence.

Māori had lower employment rates later in life than non-Māori

Māori aged 27–30 had lower employment rates than non-Māori
Care and protection and/or
youth justice intervention		 Care or custody
Māori Non-Māori Māori Non-Māori
51% 63% 36% 48%

This outcome indicator shows rates of employment for adults aged 27–30 who had been involved in the oranga tamariki system as children.

In every region Māori aged 27–30 had lower employment rates than non-Māori, but the difference is greater in some regions
  Māori – past involvement with Oranga Tamariki Non-Māori – past involvement with Oranga Tamariki
Auckland 45% 60%
Bay of Plenty and Central Plateau 47% 60%
Canterbury 51% 61%
Greater Wellington 53% 68%
Hawke's Bay and East Coast 52% 68%
Lower South Island 58% 64%
Taranaki and Manawatū 51% 59%
Te Tai Tokerau 45% 53%
Upper South Island 55% 61%
Waikato 44% 60%

This outcome indicator shows regional rates of employment for adults aged 27–30 in 2023 who had been involved in the oranga tamariki system as children.

This data shows that the largest differences in rates of employment were in the Auckland, Greater Wellington and Waikato regions.

Stable housing is crucial to a successful transition from care for rangatahi Māori

Lack of stable accommodation continues to be a barrier to a successful transition from care. Housing unavailability was noted as an ongoing challenge faced by rangatahi transitioning from care in the four-year evaluation of the Oranga Tamariki Transition Support Service.78

Safe, healthy and affordable housing is fundamental to living with dignity. Housing stability strongly influences wellbeing, health outcomes, educational attainment, employment and a sense of belonging. Rangatahi without stable housing are at higher risk of poor mental and physical health, substance use, imprisonment, victimisation and risky sexual behaviour.79

Rangatahi are living in unstable accommodation

In our 2024/25 regional engagements, we heard from a couple of transition workers about housing for rangatahi transitioning to adulthood in Te Tai Tokerau and the Bay of Plenty. They told us about a small number of rangatahi in precarious living situations, including in a holiday park, couch surfing, and living in a car.

In Te Tai Tokerau, we heard from an iwi
TribeView the full glossary social service leader about the need for supported accommodation in the region.

"In an ideal world, we would have supported accommodation here in Kaikohe – a space where [rangatahi] can come and they can learn. That’s another thing I’ve been noticing – [rangatahi] haven’t learnt basic skills to wash clothes, cook, clean – in an ideal world, we have that. But right now, it’s just supporting them and advocating for them even with our own services with Ministry of Social Development.” IWI SOCIAL SERVICE LEADER

With inadequate transition support and a shortage of stable accommodation options, many rangatahi have few options and sometimes nowhere to go. This gap in support at such a vital stage can be the beginning of long-term housing insecurity.

"I’m turning 18 next year and what will happen then? If I turn 18 and there is no support around me, I don’t know what will happen to me. I don’t know where I will be.” RANGATAHI

Māori who were in care as children face greater long-term housing insecurity than non-Māori

There is a clear and ongoing gap between housing outcomes for Māori and non-Māori. Māori have lower rates of home ownership and higher rates of intergenerational poverty and are more likely to experience homelessness.

This is not a new issue. Evidence shows how the long-term impacts of colonisation and structural inequities in the housing system have created these disparities. These systemic issues have a direct impact on 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 that carry through generations.80

Data from the IDI highlights these risks. It shows that Māori who have been in care are much more likely to have used emergency housing at some point in their lives.

Use of emergency housing was higher for Māori aged 18–25
Care and protection and/or
youth justice intervention		 Care or custody
Māori Non-Māori Māori Non-Māori
8% 3% 20% 13%

This data tells us more needs to be done if outcomes are to improve for Māori

The data in this section shows that high levels of unmet care and protection needs have a long tail of impact across the lives of tamariki and rangatahi Māori.

Outcomes for Māori involved in the system are worse than for Māori not known to Oranga Tamariki. Data continues to show that, overall, the more involved tamariki and rangatahi Māori have been in the system, the worse their long-term outcomes.

While outcomes are not necessarily caused by involvement in the oranga tamariki system, disparity data shows that outcomes for Māori in the system are often worse than for non-Māori. Māori also experience poorer services in some areas such as timeliness of response to reports of concern and aspects of care.

If long-term outcomes are to improve and inequities to reduce, responses that better meet the needs of tamariki, rangatahi and their whānau, delivered at the earliest opportunity, are required.

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Footnotes

54 It is widely accepted that disability is under-diagnosed among tamariki
Children (plural) aged 0-13 yearsView the full glossary and rangatahi
Young person aged 14 – 21 years of ageView the full glossary involved in the oranga tamariki system. “However, it is acknowledged that research has reported vastly different estimates of disability amongst the population of tamariki and rangatahi engaged with Oranga Tamariki.” Oranga Tamariki. (2023). Evidence brief: Primary healthcare needs of disabled children in care and protection (p. 14). orangatamariki.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/About-us/Research/Latest-research/Primary-healthcareneeds-of-disabled-children-in-care/Evidence-Brief-Primary-care-needs-of-disabled-children-in-care.pdf
55 Some outcome indicators use an age range within 0–17 such as 14–17. Where this is the case, it is noted.
56 Outcome indicators for our 2023/24 Outcomes for Māori report looked at tamariki and rangatahi Māori aged 0–17 in 2022. We have not included a time series comparison of data in this report. This will be something for our future Outcomes for Māori reports.
57 Definitions and other technical notes are provided in Appendix Two.
58 Due to an error, the data shown for mental health and addiction service use in our 2023/24 Outcomes for Māori report was incorrect. Last year’s data was for the first half of 2022 only and therefore under-represented service use.
59 As noted in our in-depth review of enrolment and access to primary health services and dental care for rangatahi and tamariki in care, health and dental services provided in secure residences are delivered by contracted providers. As such, tamariki and rangatahi would not normally be seeing their own GP while in youth justice custody. Aroturuki Tamariki. (2023). Access to primary health services and dental care.
60 School attendance data is based on enrolments. As shown in our Experiences of Care in Aotearoa
New ZealandView the full glossary reports, there are tamariki and rangatahi Māori who do not attend school at all because they are not enrolled. These tamariki and rangatahi are not included in attendance data. In our regional engagements, we hear reasons why tamariki and rangatahi don’t and/or can’t enrol or attend school.
61 Rates for irregular and moderate absence are not shown here. Irregular absence is classed as attending for 80–89 percent of the time, and moderate absence is classed as attending for 70–79 percent of the time.
62 See footnote 60.
63 See footnote 61.
64 A range of services delivered by Oranga Tamariki to meet its transition to adulthood obligations by supporting rangatahi to prepare for leaving care or custody. Oranga Tamariki contracts transition workers through community providers to deliver parts of the service. Rangatahi are eligible for Transition Support Services if they have been in care or youth justice custody for over three continuous months from 14 years and 9 months up until they turn 18.
65 See footnote 44.
66 Eligibility for Transition Support Services from Oranga Tamariki is based on how old tamariki and rangatahi were when they left custody or care and how long they were in care or custody. To be eligible for Transition Support Services, rangatahi must have been in care or custody for at least three months continuously after the age of 14 years and 9 months. For eligible rangatahi, Transition Support Services can support their transition into adult life between 15 and 25 years of age. orangatamariki.govt.nz/children-in-our-care/transition-support-service
67 Involved with the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services.
68 See footnote 1.
69 We have not included a time series comparison of data in this report. This will be something for our future annual Outcomes for Māori reports.
70 The letter ‘s’ shows we have suppressed the data. To protect the privacy of individuals, we follow Stats NZ guidelines and suppress (do not disclose) the exact number of individuals when that number is below 6. This is to reduce the risk that information could be used to identify individuals or learn private information about them.
71 The definition for this indicator means the person received a main benefit for the entirety of 2023.
72 Some outcome indicators also show disparities between Māori and non-Māori who were not involved in the oranga tamariki system. In some cases, this is larger than the disparities we see for those in the system.
73 A chronic absence is where a person is reported as attending school for less than 70 percent of term 1 in 2023.
74 For example, certificates or diplomas from non-university tertiary education providers such as wānanga, polytechnics or institutes of technology.
75 For example, bachelor’s degrees or postgraduate degrees and diplomas.
76 In 2023, of all those aged 18–25 in Aotearoa with no involvement with Oranga Tamariki, 64 percent of Māori and 65 percent of non- Māori had a driver licence.
77 Regional differences can be for a variety of reasons, including the availability of driver licence programmes and testing centres.
78 Malatest International. (2023). The four-year evaluation of Oranga Tamariki Transition Support Service. orangatamariki.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/About-us/Research/Latest-research/Transition-Support-Service-four-year-evaluation/TSS-Evaluation-report.pdf
79 Fraser, B., Chun, S., Pehi, T., Jiany, T., Johnson, E., Ombler, J., McMinn, C., & Pierse, N. (2022). Post-housing first outcomes amongst a cohort of formally homeless youth in Aotearoa New Zealand. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, 53(5), 656–672. doi.org/10 .1080/03036758.2022.2088572
80 Waitangi Tribunal. (2024). Kāinga
Address, residence, village, settlement, habitation, habitat, dwellingView the full glossary kore: The stage one report of the Housing Policy and Services Kaupapa Inquiry on Māori Homelessness. forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/WT/wt_DOC_211421672/Kainga%20Kore%20W.pdf