Government establishing child protection investigation unit to probe harm in state care

The Government will establish a new child protection investigation unit to probe cases where care provided by the state has caused harm . It’s being described as a step to improving Oranga Tamariki , which has faced a list of complaints about failures in protecting children . It also follows the Government’s apology last week to the survivors of abuse in previous state care programmes.

Children’s Minister Karen Chhour said the Royal Commission of Inquiry report into the abuse experienced by individuals – including children – in state care showed the risk of “not acting immediately when there are serious concerns and complaints”. She said concerns needed to be escalated and responded to with “urgency and accuracy” to ensure children in care were “not harmed or subjected to the same treatment of the many survivors who shared their stories with the nation”. “Last week, Oranga Tamariki acting chief executive Andrew Bridgman apologised to survivors of abuse in state care where he promised to do better and demand better from the care system.



This is another step in Oranga Tamariki becoming a better ministry and putting action to their words..