When is a child brought into care
Under the law, Oranga Tamariki is required to keep children safe – and in some situations, bringing a child into our care is the only way to keep them safe.
Being in care
All children belong in families who will love and care for them. We work together with families and whānau to resolve any issues, and offer the help and support they might need to provide a safe, stable and loving home.
In some situations though, a child or young person’s family may not be able to provide them with safe, stable, loving care. When this happens, we’ll first look within the wider whānau for somewhere to place the child while things get sorted at home. Sometimes this means that a child will need to live with an approved and trained caregiver.
What to expect
When we talk about a child or young person ‘being in care’, it means we have a legal responsibility to keep the child or young person safe and secure.
Whether they're living with someone in their family or with other caregivers, we need to make sure their needs are being met.
Getting ready for independence
As young people get ready to leave care (currently at 18 years old), we’ll work with them to help form a plan for their future.
We’ll bring together their family, whānau and others important to them who are likely to have a role in supporting them when they leave care.
Safety of Children in Care
Oranga Tamariki is implementing a new approach to reporting on harm experienced by tamariki in care. We'll be able to review cases where harm has been found, in real time, and to act quickly to keep our most vulnerable tamariki safe.
The new approach will also enable us to better understand the underlying risk factors for children and young people in care. This will help us to improve our practice, our support, and the services we provide for tamariki in care and their caregivers.