Safety of Children in Care

The Safety of Children in Care unit reviews and measures the findings of harm for children and young people in care. This enables us to better understand what is happening for children in our care, and work to prevent future harm.

Most tamariki or children enter the care of Oranga Tamariki because they have been harmed. The data shows that, where we remove tamariki or children from those harmful situations, in the vast majority of cases we keep them safe. But it also shows that some tamariki or children continue to experience harm – from family, other adults or other children.  

We have taken action around harmful situations, well before the data was collected. In some cases they have involved other agencies, such as the Police. In every single case social workers have done an assessment to determine how we should proceed and whether to involve others.

The harm of any child or young person is unacceptable. This data shows that the changes we are implementing are essential.

Annual report

Biannual report

Quarterly reports

Published: March 13, 2019 · Updated: February 1, 2023