The Māori Inquiry into Oranga Tamariki (The New Zealand Ministry for Children, also formerly known as Child, Youth and Family or ‘CYF’) was launched as a result of the continued inaction by the New Zealand Government to respond to ongoing serious issues in relation to the treatment of tamariki (children) Māori and whānau (extended family) Māori within the government child and youth care and protection system. The severe negative impacts on Māori whānau and tamariki are in direct contravention of Oranga Tamariki’s stated aim of ensuring children are where they can be safe, connected and flourishing.

The Māori Inquiry into Oranga Tamariki seeks to fill the current gap of understanding around the intricacies and complexities that lie at the heart of Māori realities, and to give voice to something that for too long has been either silenced, or wrongly appropriated and misrepresented. In many ways, these findings represent just a small exposure of a much larger problem and highlight the need to provide a more extensive space to hear whānau voices, especially the voices of those who are the least powerful in this scenario, which are tamariki Māori.

Key actions

1. Supporting whānau - strengthen whānau capability and capacity.
2. A structural analysis and review of Oranga Tamariki systems, policies, processes and practices.
3. Build on the call from whānau for ‘By Māori - For Māori, with Māori’ solutions for long-term sustainability.