Context
There are currently four agencies in New Zealand that have care and custody of and . The government agency Oranga Tamariki, has the majority of tamariki in its care and custody. As at 31 December 2019, there were 6,373 tamariki and rangatahi in the care and custody of Oranga Tamariki, including both care and protection and youth justice 7.
Data provided by the agencies shows they had the following number of children in their care or custody.
Table One – numbers of children in the custody of provider agencies and Oranga Tamariki as at 31 December 2019
The Monitor requested demographic data from each of the four agencies to understand the characteristics of the tamariki and rangatahi in the care system. Given the very small number of tamariki and rangatahi in the custody of two of the agencies, demographic data is only shown for those in the care or custody of Oranga Tamariki and Open Home Foundation.
The demographic data for Oranga Tamariki shown in the diagrams over the page includes the number of tamariki or rangatahi that have entered and exited care during the reporting period rather than those specifically in care or custody on 31 December 2019.
Oranga Tamariki demographics
* Please note percentages do not add to 100 due to rounding.
Open Home demographics
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7. The total number of children in the custody of Oranga Tamariki for care and protection reasons is 6,169 and those under youth justice custody is 204.