Client: Ministry of Social Development
The Oranga Tamariki system includes all the services that support children, young people, and their families and whānau, along with three agencies that have oversight roles: the Independent Children’s Monitor, the Children’s Commissioner, and the Ombudsman. Legislation required an independent review of the oversight system, and MSD commissioned MartinJenkins to lead the review.
Engagement was a key input. We talked to the oversight agencies, to government agencies in the Oranga Tamariki system, and to their contracted partners and care providers. We also talked with organisations that represent children and young people, with hapū, iwi, and Māori organisations, and with 30 children and young people referred to us by care providers and youth-led groups. We also reviewed over 200 documents covering operational procedure, the law, financial records and tabulated data, operating models, and more.
The review confirmed that high-quality oversight, monitoring, and accountability arrangements are important for maintaining public trust and supporting transparency around how the state cares for children and young people.
We found that the key Acts – the Oversight of Oranga Tamariki System Act 2022 and the Children and Young People’s Commission Act 2022 – are operating effectively and as needed to achieve their intended purposes; that oversight agencies are developing relationships with iwi and Māori organisations; and that there is no evidence of anyone deliberately obstructing the Monitor.
However, we also found that the oversight system could be improved in several ways to support better reporting and more transparency and accountability.
Our full report can be found here, and we also made a version for children and young people.
