We were established in 2019 to monitor agency compliance with the National Care Standards (NCS)Regulations. The NCS Regulations (National Care Standards and Related Matters) Regulations 2018 View the full glossary set out the standard of care every child and young person needs to do well and be well, and the support all caregivers can expect to receive. The NCS Regulations came into effect on 1 July 2019. We currently monitor three agencies that have children in their custody.
On 1 May 2023 our role was expanded to monitor the whole of the oranga tamariki system. The Oranga Tamariki system encompasses all agencies that provide services to children and young people under, or operating in connection with, the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989. The Act includes health, education, police, and disability services, as well as NGOs Non-government organisationsView the full glossary, among others.
Underpinning our work are our principles of being child-centred (within the context of 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) and having te ao Māori The Māori worldView the full glossary focus across all that we do. Below are our core values that influence how we engage with each other and those we work with.
Kia Māia – Courageous
We are brave, bold, capable and confident. This means we:
stand up for what is right
tell the truth, even when it isn’t popular.
Manaaki – Respectful
We show respect and care for others. This means we:
respect diversity of thought, action, and culture
have a child-centred and te ao Māori perspective woven throughout our work
look out for each other and make work a safe place for our colleagues.
Kia Pono, Kia Tika – Trustworthy
We are honest and genuine and do the right thing. This means we:
admit when we don’t know the answer
cross-check our data
do what we say we will and communicate in a timely manner if we can’t.
Kia Huritao – Reflective
We are considered and reflective. This means we:
learn from experience, value feedback, and always look for opportunities to improve
take the necessary time to make the best decisions we can
never assume we know what is best.
Our peopleKaimahi
Nearly two thirds of our kaimahi are focused on gathering and analysing information, reflecting our emphasis on listening to the voices of those experiencing the system.
Our operational teams (our monitors who visit communities) are spread around the motu – in Tāmaki (Auckland), Whanganui-a-tara (Wellington) and Ōtautahi ChristchurchView the full glossary (Christchurch).
Our monitors come from a range of backgrounds and areas of expertise including social work, psychology, education and law. They are trained in listening and speaking with children and young people and have experience in working with different communities, including Māori communities.
Whanganui-a-tara is the base for most of the teams who support this work and carry the voices of experience through into the reports we publish. This includes Data and Insights, Performance, Policy and Practice (PPP) and Communications, and Māori and Community Engagement.
Arran Jones is the Chief Executive of Aroturuki Tamariki Children (plural) aged 0-13 yearsView the full glossary, the Independent Children’s Monitor. Arran has been with the Monitor since April 2020. He has a legal background, having spent over ten years working in the Ministry of Social Development’s Legal Service both as senior solicitor and Deputy Chief Legal Advisor leading operational and corporate teams.
Arran has held several leadership roles at the Ministry of Social Development including in the Office of the Chief Executive, Legal Services and at Work and Income. More recently he was Head of Privacy at ACC. Arran also led the Partnerships and Programmes workstream in the Investing in Children programme that established Oranga Tamariki.
“My vision for the Monitor is to listen to many voices, most importantly of children tamariki, young people rangatahi Young person aged 14 – 21 years of ageView the full glossary 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, to reflect and then share insights to hold the Oranga Tamariki system to account and also support better informed decision making, both at the centre and in communities. I believe this is how we can provide the greatest support to Oranga Tamariki and other monitored agencies the organisations providing services in the Oranga Tamariki system, and ultimately the children tamariki and young people rangatahi in their care or at risk of coming into care.”
Nova Banaghan is the Chief Monitor. Nova has been with the Monitor since August 2019. She is a registered Social Worker and has had a 20-year career in the public service, including leadership roles with Child, Youth and Family, the Ministry of Social Development, and the Department of Corrections.
Nova’s experience includes working directly with tamariki Children (plural) aged 0-13 yearsView the full glossary 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, as well as several years in senior leadership roles including supporting the Women’s Strategy at the Department of Corrections. Nova has also developed relationships with non-government organisations and iwi TribeView the full glossary, and Māori organisations. She is also on the board of governors for a not-for-profit organisation, supporting children and families of those with a parent in prison.
“Part of the role of the Monitor is to highlight great practice and to be a support to those delivering services. My aim is to see the improvement of the practice and systems, through the influence of the Monitor, to give our children and tamariki in care the best opportunities.”
In May 2019, Te Kāhui To flock, to herd, to cluster and so denotes a groupView the full glossary, comprising key Māori leaders, was established to help achieve the engagement and collaboration goals for the policy and legislative phase. They play a pivotal role in supporting the monitor by providing advice and support on our monitoring assessment approach and how we work. The members of Te Kāhui have expertise, leadership and mana Prestige, authority, control, power, influence, status, spiritual power, charismaView the full glossary in health, justice and social services for Māori.
Donna Matahaere-Atariki (Chair)
Ngāi Te Ruahikihiki, Ngāti Taoka, Te Atawhiua, Taranaki, Te Atiawa
Donna Matahaere-Atariki (MNZM) chairs the Otakou Rūnanga and the Ministry of Health NGO Council. She is also a member of the University of Otago Council, Trustee of Well South Primary Health Network, Alternate for Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, and a Gambling Commissioner. Donna has also held positions in Oranga Tamariki and Te Puni Kōkiri and been a Whānau Ora coach for Te Pūtahitanga o Te Waipounamu Whānau Ora Commission. She is currently the Chair of Otakou Health Ltd and on the Board of the Otago Community Hospice.
Tā Mark Solomon
Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Kurī
Tā Mark Wiremu Solomon, (KNZM) is an experienced and respected leader of his hapū Sub-tribeView the full glossary, his iwi TribeView the full glossary and the wider New Zealand business community. He has served as a member of his local school board and the board of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, as a trustee of Takahanga Marae in his home kāinga Address, residence, village, settlement, habitation, habitat, dwellingView the full glossary of Kaikoura, as Kaiwhakahaere of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu for nearly 18 years and has been a member of the Canterbury District Health Board. Tā Mark is currently on the Deep South Science Challenge Board and the Sustainable Seas Science Challenge Board, Deputy Chair of Te Ohu Kaimoana and Chair of the Board for Te Pūtahitanga o Te Waipounamu Whānau Ora Commission. Tā Mark is a strong advocate for Māori.
Druis Barrett
Ngāti Whatua-Ngāpuhi descent and her hapū are Uriroroi and Mahurehure
Druis Barrett (CNZM) has been a previous Commissioner for two Commissions; Training and Employment, and the Gisborne Cervical Screening Cases; was a former National President of the Māori Women’s Welfare League; Trustee of Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust Board; and sits on many government advisory groups. She is passionate and committed to promoting and setting tūturu policy for Māori and for the well-being and development of 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, hapū and iwi.
Katie Murray
Te Rarawa, Te Aupouri, Ngāti Kuri, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kahu, Ngāi Takoto
Katie Murray (QSM) is the Kai Arahi of Waitomo Papakainga, a whānau-based and focused kaupapa Māori based social service agency in Kaitaia. Waitomo Papakainga supports a wide range of programmes and activities that support whānau in her community. Katie is actively involved in her community of Te Hiku ō Te Ika and has a degree in Social Work. She is a trustee on Te Rūnanga ō Te Rarawa as well as Te Hiku ō Te Ika Iwi Development Trust. Katie is a straight talking, passionate and visionary Māori woman committed to the restoration of tino rangatiratanga for whānau, hapū and iwi.
Eugene Ryder
Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Awa and Tūwharetoa ki Kawerau
Eugene Ryder has over 25 years’ experience working to support marginalised families. His expertise and voluntary work in and alongside gang communities in particular, is exceptional. Eugene was appointed by the Chair of the Royal Commission on the Abuse of Children in State Care as an Ambassador and key contact with networks in the gang and wider community. Eugene has worked alongside various government departments advising and sharing his knowledge and expertise, most notably with the Department of Justice, Department of Corrections, Oranga Tamariki and the Ministry for Social Development.
Our guiding documentsTuhinga Arataki
Our 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 approach lays a sound foundation for us to work with tamariki Children (plural) aged 0-13 yearsView the full glossary and rangatahi Young person aged 14 – 21 years of ageView the full glossary, and those who hold their best interests at heart - 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, hapū Sub-tribeView the full glossary, iwi TribeView the full glossary and communities.
We focus on building relationships that are respectful and trustworthy, reciprocal, with a common focus. Our proactive engagement, along with effective processes for talking, learning and working together, contributes to successful conversations.
We do not work in isolation. Key to our success is engaging and partnering with Māori and those who work within, or experience, the oranga tamariki system. We strive to be inclusive, encompassing the diversity of culture, identity and ethnicity of all participants in the care system.
We continue to strengthen the relationships we built during the engagement with communities in mid-2019. Our work is further supported and guided by Te Kāhui To flock, to herd, to cluster and so denotes a groupView the full glossary.
We have six guiding documents that provide a solid foundation for us to work with tamariki, rangatahi, and their whānau. They ensure our work is guided by a child-centred and whānau-led practice. A commitment to Māori is embedded in our engagement and monitoring approach.
At Aroturuki Tamariki Children (plural) aged 0-13 yearsView the full glossary, we check that organisations supporting and working with tamariki and rangatahi Young person aged 14 – 21 years of ageView the full glossary 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 and families, are meeting their needs, delivering services effectively, and improving outcomes. We monitor compliance with the Oranga Tamariki Act and associated standards and regulations, including the National Care Standards Regulations.
We do this through monitoring system performance and using an outcomes approach for tamariki and rangatahi who are in care or at risk of coming into care. We also look at the quality of practice, and identify areas for improvement, across the wider oranga tamariki system under the Oversight of the Oranga Tamariki System Act.
The stories and lived experiences of tamariki and rangatahi, their whānau, caregivers and community are at the centre of our monitoring approach. We also talk with government organisations (such as Oranga Tamariki, Police, health and education) and community organisations including iwi TribeView the full glossary and Māori organisations and those with care and custody of tamariki and rangatahi.
These voices of experience help us understand how well services are working together in a community to improve outcomes for tamariki and rangatahi.
We analyse what we hear from communities we visit, alongside the nationwide data and information we collect. We use this analysis to inform our reports. We report our findings to Ministers, including the Minister for Children and our reports are tabled in Parliament. We publish our reports on on our website and share them with iwi and others who advocate for system change.
Aroturuki Tamariki is an independent departmental agency. As a departmental agency we are hosted by the Education Review Office (ERO) who provide us with back-office functions such as payroll, finance and IT.
Our values are Kia Māia – to be Courageous; Kia Pono, Kia Tika – to be Trustworthy; Manaaki – to be Respectful; and Kia Huritao – to be Reflective. We are always on the lookout for people who share our values to work with us to support improving outcomes for tamariki and rangatahi and build meaningful connections with communities.
Pay gap action plan
At Aroturuki Tamariki Children (plural) aged 0-13 yearsView the full glossary, understanding and closing gender, Māori, Pacific, and ethnic pay gaps is important to us and aligns with our values. We are currently analysing our pay data and developing our pay gap action plan which will reflect our commitment to the Kia Toipoto three-year goals to:
make substantial progress toward closing gender, Māori, Pacific, and ethnic pay gaps accelerate progress for wāhine Māori, Pacific women, and women from ethnic communities create fairer workplaces for all, including disabled people and members of rainbow communities.
Our news and updatesKarere
Click here to read our latest newsletters and latest updates.
Our corporate documentsTuhinga Rangatōpū
Find out about our annual reporting and planning documents, and view information we publish including briefing reports, responses to Official Information Act requests, and our Chief Executive's expenditure.
