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RNZ News
4 days ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
Children's minister Karen Chhour criticised for lack of transparency over bootcamps
Karen Chhour. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone Opposition MPs are criticising the children's minister for a lack of transparency regarding the government's bootcamps, despite more than $30 million dollars being allocated towards future versions of it while the pilot hasn't finished yet. Labour's Willow Jean-Prime said the government knew the bootcamps weren't working, but refused to admit that and was "pouring more money in anyway." Karen Chhour continues to back the pilot though, saying it was about giving young people a chance, but acknowledged the death of one participant derailed some of those taking part. Chhour was questioned by Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori about the government's youth military academies in a scrutiny hearing on Wednesday. She was also grilled on contracting decisions by Oranga Tamariki and the latest report from the Independent Children's Monitor on outcomes for young Māori in care. Labour's Willow Jean-Prime. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone Prime referenced the latest report evaluating the progress of the academies that she said was "uploaded quietly" onto Oranga Tamariki's website last week. It's the second preliminary report and focuses on the transition of the young people in the pilot from the residential phase to the community phase. Some of the findings included a reduction in the "seriousness and frequency of offending" and spending longer in the community were "successes", and had been observed for some but not all the teenagers in the cohort. In terms of the reduction in offending, the final report - due later this year - would include analysis of police data. However, it noted the small number of participants meant it was unlikely any "statistically robust conclusions" would be drawn about the impact the programme had on reoffending compared to other youth justice residences. The report also stated the detailed design and planning of the transition phase began "late" in the residential phase, which led to a "disconnect" between the residential and community phases. It pointed out social workers had key roles in transition and worked well with mentors but "did not have enough preparation or capacity". Most mentors formed a close relationship with the teenager they were supporting, but there was a lack of clarity on some aspects of the mentor role itself. Prime quizzed the minister on why nobody was alerted to the report being released publicly, given the "public interest" in the issue. Chhour said she wouldn't normally alert people personally when a report was released. Prime then asked - from the evaluation - whether the minister was confident the experiment had been a success, given the coalition was investing an additional $33 million into military style academies, and whether it was a good response to youth offending. Chhour said it wasn't the only response to youth offending, and she "absolutely" supported the initiative, but said she wasn't in a place to say whether it had been a success or not. "Yet - you're giving it $33 million?" Prime interjected. "This is still in a pilot stage," Chhour said, "it still has a review process to go through once the pilot has ended." "What I am confident about is the legislation that's going through allows us to pivot, to learn from things that may not have worked within the pilot, and actually pivot to change the things that did work within the pilot, so the legislation allows for that." Prime asked whether it had led to a reduction in reoffending, saying that was the "primary objective" of the academies. Chhour rejected that, saying the primary objective was to give young people a chance not to enter the correction system. She refused to provide any detail on how many young people had reoffended. Prime noted the report had stated six of the participants had been interviewed in the residence during the community phase, suggesting that meant 60 percent of participants had reoffended. Prime pointed to the academy being entrenched into law before the pilot was completed, saying the report didn't give any reoffending rate which was "disappointing". "You all know that is the information that we are seeking to be able to assess whether this is working." Kahurangi Carter. Photo: VNP / Phil Smith The Greens' Kahurangi Carter also said the releasing of the report hadn't been a "transparent process" because media and politicians weren't alerted. She asked whether the rangatahi "actually had" support in the community, which was key to the pilot. National Director of Youth Justice Residences and Home at Oranga Tamariki, Iain Chapman, said it was a pilot and "you learn from a pilot". He said there'd been elements of success in the residence phase, but some "learnings" from the transition to community phase. Those lessons would be taken, along with the evaluation toward the end of the year, and inform any future military style academy. Labour's Helen White then called the project a "flop" and criticised the Minister for funding her "pet project" rather than allocating that money toward reducing the amount of violence in society which leads to the deaths of women and children. Helen White. Photo: VNP / Phil Smith Chhour responded by saying it was "disingenuous" to "sit there and yell across this table like I'm not doing anything to protect these young people." "It's not either or ... we have to work at both ends of this" she said. White doubled down, saying violence was a crisis, and did the Minister agree "we have to be open minded if something doesn't work, and redirect money into things that do work." Chhour agreed, saying that was exactly why there had been a review of all contracts, and White interjected asking "would you like to go there?" and Prime attempting to offer the Auditor-General's findings. Chair of the committee Joseph Mooney. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone Chair of the committee Joseph Mooney called for the question to be answered, with Prime scoffing in frustration. "I absolutely do agree we have to make sure there are outcomes for the money we are spending on our contracts, which is what the review process was about moving forward," Chhour replied. Prime then tried to get further detail about future military academies, such as where and when they would run, what the projected numbers were for those who would take part, and the cost per participant. Chhour said she couldn't talk about the next iteration because it was still a "pilot" and decisions hadn't yet been made as to how that money would be allocated once the pilot had ended. "We look at the learnings from the pilot, and once the legislation goes through, then we can make some of those decisions. But I can't give you answers on decisions that haven't been made yet." Prime pointed out there was a budget allocation for it, so there must be some information or modelling about the future versions, and queried how the specific allocation of money was decided on. Chhour said the money was there to provide certainty that contracts can be procured where necessary. She said the money may not be spent, or she may need to bid for more money. Chapman also chimed in saying there were a lot of "variables" but there were no definite decisions. Prime said multiple times her question hadn't been answered, raising a point of order, to which Chair Joseph Mooney decided the question had been addressed and moved on. The final evaluation of the bootcamp pilot will be released in late 2025. Kahurangi Carter also raised the report which found Oranga Tamariki was "poorly prepared" to carry out its contracting round during the 2024/25 financial year, and fell short of expectations for public organisations. The report stated the effects of the decisions by the child protection agency were "still not known" and this was "unacceptable". Carter asked whether Minister accepted the findings, to which she said she accepted the processes that were happening could not continue, and there had to be accountability for contracts. "I'm never going to apologise," Chhour said. She said the Auditor-General had a right to say what he did, but there'd been no scrutiny or accountability on contracts, and she wouldn't apologise for asking the agency to have outcomes for the money it was spending to protect children. Asked whether she stood by her statement that Oranga Tamariki had been a cash-cow for community service providers, Chhour said "absolutely I stand by that statement". 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Scoop
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Systemic Change Crucial So That All Mokopuna Māori Thrive
Press Release – Mana Mokopuna The new report published today by my colleagues Aroturuki Tamariki | Independent Childrens Monitor shows the urgent need for systemic change at a collective level, so that all mokopuna Mori can thrive. In light of a new report published today about outcomes for mokopuna Māori and whānau in the oranga tamariki system, the Chief Children's Commissioner is emphasising that all mokopuna Māori have the right to grow up safe and well with their whānau. 'The new report published today by my colleagues Aroturuki Tamariki | Independent Children's Monitor shows the urgent need for systemic change at a collective level, so that all mokopuna Māori can thrive. 'I want to see all agencies across the oranga tamariki system working better together to address the inequities highlighted in this report so that all mokopuna Māori are flourishing in their lives, in the care of their whānau. The State has duties to uphold the rights of mokopuna Māori as tangata whenua under Te Tiriti o Waitangi and under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. This new report shows that the system as a whole is still falling short of this, and that there are intergenerational impacts playing out right now. 'I meet frequently with whānau Māori and their mokopuna, iwi and hapū across the motu. They tell me it is whānau-led, iwi, hapū and kaupapa Māori approaches that are helping to strengthen whānau, keep mokopuna safe, and growing continued pathways to mana motuhake – self determination. The findings of this report back this up,' says Dr Achmad. The Chief Children's Commissioner notes that the report shows that good progress can be made where there is genuine partnership between Māori and State agencies that keeps mokopuna and whānau central, along with the sharing of data and resources. 'I want to see these approaches strengthened and expanded so they deliver enduring wraparound services and supports for all mokopuna and whānau who need them. A stronger focus on by Māori for Māori prevention and early intervention is essential. These approaches will improve outcomes so that all mokopuna Māori grow up safe and well in the care of their whānau, connected to their whakapapa.' She says safety concerns about mokopuna must be responded to appropriately and quickly, but that with almost half of Reports of Concern leading to no further action, the report shows this isn't happening. 'I want to see mokopuna Māori needs being met early, through Māori-led approaches working closely with whānau. These ways of working need to be better supported by the oranga tamariki system – the report highlights that this leads to the best outcomes for whānau and mokopuna. 'I am deeply concerned the report shows mokopuna Māori aged 10-17 are more likely to be prosecuted than non-Māori, and less likely to be referred by Police to alternative action or given warnings. The system must urgently stop criminalising the unmet care and protection needs of mokopuna Māori. 'Nearly 40 years have passed since the publication of Pūao-te-āta-tū. This new report shows that the system is still not working as it should be for whānau Māori and their mokopuna. The crucial change that is required must collectively meet the aspirations of whānau and mokopuna Māori,' says Dr Achmad.
RNZ News
11-06-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Oranga Tamariki report finds stark outcomes for Māori in state care system
Independent Children's Monitor chief executive Arran Jones said the report was a "story of consequence" and of needs not addressed Photo: RNZ The Independent Children's Monitor has found Māori children in the Oranga Tamariki system are overrepresented and being let down; and the outcomes for Māori adults involved in the system when they were younger "paint a stark picture", with higher mortality rates over time than those not involved. Those same adults who had experience in custody or in care were nine times more likely to have used emergency housing as an adult and half as likely to be in employment, Children's Monitor chief executive Arran Jones said. He said the report was a "story of consequence" and of needs not addressed by a system that could not always get the right support in place at the right time. "The needs of tamariki and rangatahi then multiply as they escalate through the system." The inaugural report in a new annual series, focused on whether the system was delivering outcomes for tamariki and rangatahi Māori, looked at the period between 1 July 2023, to 30 June 2024. What this report did, compared to the usual monitoring of Oranga Tamariki operational activities, was "lifting up and looking at outcomes in terms of the life course for young people and their experiences", Jones said. The report emphasised that most young Māori had no involvement in the Oranga Tamariki system. Jones said this context was important because narratives can "get away on us." A third of those aged between zero and 18 in New Zealand were Māori - around 330,000 young people. In the 2023/24 reporting year: But when young Māori are involved in the system, "there are increasing levels of over-representations" Jones said. The report stated the over-representation of Māori at every level within the care and protection system was a "clear indicator the system is not performing". Around half of the reports of concern made to Oranga Tamariki were about tamariki and rangatahi Māori, the report showed. They also made up two-thirds of young people in state care, and more than three-quarters of those in youth justice custody. In 2022, young Māori in care or custody achieved education qualifications at almost half the rate of Māori with no involvement in the system; those in the Oranga Tamariki system were significantly more likely to be hospitalised for self-harm than those not; those in care used mental health and addiction services at nearly five times the rate of those not involved, and rangatahi Māori in youth justice custody used those services at 15 times the rate. "Considering 92 percent of these rangatahi had reports of concern made about their safety and wellbeing when they were younger, this is no surprise," said Jones. When it came to involvement with the police, data showed a difference in the severity of proceedings against tamariki and rangatahi Māori in 2023/24: Jones said the further these young people went into care, the worse their short- and long-term outcomes. For older Māori between 27 and 30 who had been through the care and protection system, the report said their outcomes were "sobering". "The data paints a stark picture of the consequence of the Oranga Tamariki system not doing more to help." "Māori adults who had been in the system as children are less likely to be employed, less likely to have a driver licence, more likely to be on a benefit, more likely to be in emergency housing, and more likely to be hospitalised for self-harm than Māori who had no involvement. "Mortality rates are double or triple those of Māori with no involvement in the Oranga Tamariki system for vehicle accidents and for self-harm (including suicide)." Jones said 10 in 1000 of those young Māori will have taken their own lives by the age of 27 to 30. And for Māori parents between 27 and 30 who had previously been in care themselves, 68 percent had children involved with Oranga Tamariki in some way and one in eight have had one or more children in care at some point. It acknowledged some progress was being made, but "barriers" remained. Improving outcomes would require tough decisions on where to prioritise services and sharing power and funding, it said. ACT MP and Children's Minister Karen Chhour. Photo: NZME / Mark Mitchell Other key findings: The focus to date for the Independent Children's Monitor had been the experiences of young people in state care, but it was mandated to look at the whole Oranga Tamariki system, including youth justice and intervention services. "Our legislation requires that we also do an annual report on outcomes for tamariki and rangatahi Māori and their whanau for the very reason that they are over represented in the system," Jones said. He acknowledged some of this data had been reported about young people generally, but this was the first time a lot of it had been focused on young people with experience in the system. He said what was important was the extent of the disparity and outcomes. The report looked at the aspirations of those in the system, and found those were not "that much different from all children in New Zealand", Jones said. "They all want to aspire, to be healthy and happy, to have jobs, to be well-educated and to have children that they can keep safe and secure and go on [and live] happy lives." The report showed that was not happening, he said, and made a strong case for investing early before the impact of what brought them to Oranga Tamariki's attention multiplied as they went through the system. He acknowledged Oranga Tamariki had made progress in terms of frameworks and approaches to work better with tamariki Māori and their whānau, but there were operational barriers that remained preventing staff from working in the way they wanted. The report also pointed to changes in funding and contracts impacting on relationships or the ability to maintain a trusted relationship. Jones said he had heard from families, providers and Oranga Tamariki's own staff about the cuts to funding and services making it harder for them to get the help that young people need. "That's a message that's come through clearly." Jones acknowledged Oranga Tamariki could not control the reports of concern that come to the agency, but once it became aware, "it's about what level of investment is made right across the system to support these families so things don't escalate, and hopefully that young people can go on and lead good lives". He stressed the finding that 92 percent of young Māori involved in the youth justice system had concerns raised about their safety and wellbeing when they were younger, and said there was opportunity for the system to prevent some of the later behaviours that led to offending if the right support was put in place at an early stage. "It creates this decision to be made about whether you build more ambulances at the bottom of the cliff and you deal with the harm that results, both to young people but also to communities, or whether there's an opportunity to invest much earlier." The report highlighted various partnerships with iwi as positive examples of intervention, particularly in the space of youth justice. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver The report highlighted various partnerships with iwi as positive examples of intervention, particularly in the space of youth justice. It described Oranga Tamariki delegating powers and functions to Best Care (Whakapai Hauora) Charitable Trust - a subsidiary of the iwi authority for Rangitāne o Manawatū - since 2020, allowing for a youth justice social worker in this particular role. The report said Whakapai Hauora worked to prevent rangatahi from reoffending. The Trust could facilitate FGCs, as well as engage rangatahi involved in youth justice in a range of initiatives. These included Mana Wahine (life skills for female rangatahi who have offended), Mana Taiohi (restorative FGC plans) and Whakapai te Waka (where rangatahi work to pay for their reparations). Other wraparound services included gym visits or community-based clinical support for mental health issues and alcohol and drug use. Many of the programmes were run in groups, with whānau included, which the Children's Monitor heard were more successful than conventional approaches and led to better outcomes. The report said it was hard to measure the impact of different approaches, but Oranga Tamariki said one marker of success for the youth justice delegation in Rangitāne was that for many years only one rangatahi referred to Whakapai Hauora had been proceeded to a court order. Another example it gave was that some rangatahi who had completed youth justice programmes with Whakapai Hauora had returned as mentors. It also described the case of a young man who had committed retail crime, but was now employed by the company he had stolen from. "This transformation is the result of the Whakapai Hauora whakaoranga process, where all parties met to hold the tāne accountable for his offending. "We heard that this was made possible by "the aunties" who build and maintain strong community relationships and work in a te ao Māori way that meets the requirements of the Oranga Tamariki Act and Oranga Tamariki practice standards." Wayne Blissett, executive director at Whakapai Hauora, told RNZ the devolution of those powers meant they carried on with the statutory obligations but were able to do so in a way that allowed "culture and meaning to be delivered in a conducive environment to healing and change". "The opportunity for whanāu to take the chance for change is a lot more conducive in an environment which is supportive, acknowledging, and I think fair." He said when those processes were delivered in a "mana-enhancing" way, it empowered whānau to make positive choices about some of the changes they wanted to make. He referenced the example of the young man gaining employment where he had offended, saying when the victim saw the opportunity to be a part of the solution and work with the person that offended against them "that's pretty amazing". Blissett believed the best way of improving outcomes for young Māori overall was to prevent them coming into care in the first place, which required earlier intervention and assessment, building communities, "as well as getting in sooner, better, faster, to create a wraparound support for whānau". "Some of the challenges at the moment is that we're focusing on the individual, I don't like the word, but perpetrator, as opposed to looking at the whole whānau system, and what's created this environment." He said the cycle had to be broken, and to do that required real opportunities with real solutions in a realistic setting for whānau. "If we just keep working with the young people in isolation, we're not actually creating the chance for the whole whānau to break out of the cycle." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
