Information sharing
Safe and appropriate information sharing will ensure everyone working with tamariki can collaborate in the best interests of the child.
Download the information sharing guidance (PDF 1.1MB)
Watch the video and the tamariki will tell you why it's important.
New provisions
Changes to section 66 of the Oranga Tamariki 1989 Act include new provisions. These came into effect from July 1, 2019 and give child welfare and protection agencies the ability to request, collect, use, and share personal information for purposes related to the wellbeing and safety of tamariki.
The new provisions are designed to put the child at the centre, and enable the right support and services to be provided to them and their whānau.
Guidance documents
Guidance on how to apply the new provisions has been developed with input from a wide range of agencies and frontline staff from across the social services sector. It outlines how you should consult with tamariki about sharing their information if appropriate. The guidance is available to download in English and Te Reo Māori.
The Ministry of Health has released a guidance document about information sharing for health professionals and the Ministry of Education has a series of decision making tools to assist you on its website.
Forms to request information
An information request form template has been developed. This is a guide for developing your agency’s own form to request information from the child welfare and protection sector.
Download the 'Form to request information from Oranga Tamariki' if you need information from us about a child or young person.
Supporting documents
Read the fact sheet for an overview of the changes to the legislation.
Download the flowchart for steps to following when thinking about sharing information under section 66C.
Download the information request template. This is a guide for developing your agency's form to request information from the child welfare and protection sector.
Read how the Oranga Tamariki Act and Family Violence Act guidance documents work together.
To see examples of how the new provisions work in practice, please read through the scenarios that have been created. If you still have questions please contact the Helpline listed below.
Approved Information Sharing Agreement (AISA)
Read the Information Sharing Agreement for Improving Public Service for Vulnerable Children to understand what information can be legally shared with the Hub.
The Office of the Privacy Commissioner has more information about the purpose and use of AISAs
Find out more
If you have any questions about the guidance or how it relates to your practice, you can contact our Helpline:
infosharinghelpline@ot.govt.nz
0508 463 674
The purpose of the Information Sharing helpline is to provide general support and guidance on queries about the operation of the information sharing laws in the Oranga Tamariki Act and the Family Violence Act.
Users should not disclose confidential or personal information about any individual or about the scenario that your question relates to.
The helpline will aim to respond to your query within one working day but some queries may take longer to resolve.