New report highlights continued, urgent need to uphold rights of mokopuna Māori in care and custody of the State

Children’s Commissioner Dr Claire Achmad is highlighting the continued and urgent need to fully uphold the rights of mokopuna Māori in the care and custody of the State, following today’s publication of Outcomes for tamariki and rangatahi Māori and their whānau, a new report from Aroturuki Tamariki Independent Children’s Monitor.

“This report reinforces that the State is continuing to miss too many opportunities to prevent mokopuna Māori from entering the Oranga Tamariki system in the first place, and to ensure that mokopuna Māori experience their full range of rights if they do come into the care of the State,” says Dr Achmad.

“As Children’s Commissioner, as well as being the independent advocate for all children in New Zealand under 18 years old, I hold the statutory mandate as the independent advocate for all children and young people who have been, or who are in, the care of the State, under the age of 25 years.

“I have been consistently raising the urgent need for Oranga Tamariki and the wider system to uphold the rights of mokopuna Māori. The findings of this new report underline the continued urgency and scale of need, and it must galvanise action.”

While the majority of mokopuna Māori are not involved with Oranga Tamariki, the Commissioner emphasises that mokopuna Māori remain disproportionately represented in the system.

“That disparity is completely unacceptable and emphasises how crucial it is that iwi and hapū continue to be at the forefront of work to uphold the rights of mokopuna Māori, so they can grow up safe in the care of their whānau, prevented from coming into the system in the first place.”

Dr Achmad notes that a key opportunity identified in the report is for Oranga Tamariki and the wider Oranga Tamariki System to continue deepening partnerships with iwi and hapū, many of whom are already leading effective initiatives that keep mokopuna safe within their whānau.

“Across the country, iwi and hapū – those included in this report, and many more – are demonstrating what works in action. Having visited with many iwi and hapū who are exercising tino rangatiratanga in care and protection and youth justice spaces, I have seen firsthand that often they are preventing mokopuna from entering State care, and supporting them to thrive, connected with their whānau. This work is crucial and I strongly encourage Oranga Tamariki to continue building on the work already under way to strengthen genuine, enduring partnerships.”

Dr Achmad is drawing attention to the disparities the report shows mokopuna Māori are experiencing in the care of Oranga Tamariki, highlighting that “when mokopuna come into the care of the State, it has the duty to do everything within its power to uphold their rights at all times. The system must be accountable to whānau, hapū and iwi Māori for how it delivers on these duties and responsibilities. As demonstrated by this report, the need to significantly improve across a range of areas connected to ensuring the basic rights of mokopuna Māori – including in terms of education and health outcomes – remains urgent.”

“I’ve heard directly from mokopuna Māori impacted by the system about the things that have worked for them, the challenges they face and the changes they want to see. The powerful leadership of care-experienced rangatahi Māori must be well understood and acted on by the system. Rangatahi advocates are harnessing their own experiences and wisdom to ensure that future generations experience positive outcomes and are always safe and thriving even if in care of the State.

“Mokopuna Māori with care experience tell me they want to feel connected, understood and supported to remain safe within their whānau and whakapapa. Their participation, perspectives and ideas must guide the system, and strengthened partnerships between iwi, hapū and Oranga Tamariki, supported by the wider Oranga Tamariki System, can ensure this,” says Dr Achmad.

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Children’s Commissioner Dr Claire Achmad is available for interviews. For media enquiries, please contact:
Melissa Wastney, 029 909 2715

Editor’s notes

Outcomes for tamariki and rangatahi Māori and their whānau in the oranga tamariki system, a new report from Aroturuki Tamariki - Independent Children’s Monitor released today, examines how the entire Oranga Tamariki system including Police, education and other government agencies, is serving mokopuna Māori.

Children’s Commissioner Dr Claire Achmad is the independent advocate for all children under the age of 18 in Aotearoa New Zealand and children and young people under 25 who have been in or who are in care and/or custody. As Children’s Commissioner, Dr Achmad leads the team at Mana Mokopuna – Children’s Commissioner, an independent Crown entity.

Our role in the oversight of Oranga Tamariki system is to advocate for the interests, rights and wellbeing of all children, and, where needed, help mokopuna and their whānau navigate the system to resolve problems. As an oversight of oranga tamariki system entity, Mana Mokopuna works closely with the two other oversight organisations, Aroturuki Tamariki - Independent Children’s Monitor, and the Office of the Ombudsman.