For example, most tamariki and rangatahi M\u0101ori who had a report of concern made about their safety or wellbeing in the last year had a previous report of concern made \u2013 one quarter had 10 or more.<\/p>\n
Chief executive of Aroturuki Tamariki, the Independent Children’s Monitor, Arran Jones. Photo \/ Mark Tantrum<\/p>\n
The majority of reports of concern are made by government agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that work with wh\u0101nau and have concerns for the wellbeing, for the safety and the care of young people, they will then contact Oranga Tamariki for help, Jones said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we know is about a half of those reports of concern that get made result in no further action, because there just isn\u2019t the capacity in the system to be able to respond to the level of need. And so we talk about then [are] disparities through the system, you\u2019ve got a disproportionate number of those reports of concern are about tamariki M\u0101ori. But then what you then see is that disparity grows the further into the system you get.\u201d<\/p>\n
When a report of concern is made and if it\u2019s considered to be critical or very urgent, there is a disparity already in terms of the level of response that is activated.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor M\u0101ori, 16% of those critical or very urgent reports of concern [are] not being responded to on time, when you compared to non-M\u0101ori, it\u2019s only 10%. So there\u2019s something happening in the system, which is leading to a slower response,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy far the majority of young M\u0101ori aren\u2019t involved in the system, but when they do, we just need to make sure we have a system that helps them at the earliest. And the thing that I\u2019d also point to is that we know the aspirations of young M\u0101ori … that have become involved in the system, aren\u2019t any different from those that aren\u2019t. They have very high aspirations for their future. And the question is, how can the state, when it has this opportunity to help, help them realise those aspirations?\u201d<\/p>\n
Jones said they haven\u2019t seen any change in the data when compared to last year.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you\u2019re looking at outcomes, the change will take some time. The important thing is that we keep looking at it and keep reporting on it to see whether things are changing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Oranga Tamariki, in its formal response to the report, which is a statutory requirement, acknowledged more needs to be done to respond to the needs of tamariki and rangatahi M\u0101ori to address the impact of overrepresentation in the system.<\/p>\n
\u201cOverrepresentation of tamariki and rangatahi M\u0101ori in the system is evident. Additionally, there are significant wider socio-economic issues that disproportionately affect M\u0101ori and have a significant impact on the likelihood of child abuse, family harm, and tamariki becoming involved in the system. These factors include the ongoing impact of colonisation, inter-generational involvement with the criminal justice system or the oranga tamariki system, worse health and education outcomes and higher instances of mental health issues and substance abuse,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe system itself does not have the resources or the mandate to address many of these factors which require a co-ordinated and sustained effort from across government to address.\u201d<\/p>\n
The response said Oranga Tamariki is committed to continuing the work identified in the response.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are confident these work programmes will contribute to addressing the report\u2019s findings and improve outcomes for tamariki and rangatahi M\u0101ori and their wh\u0101nau over time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jones said there are initiatives, which are generally pilots and prototypes that are being developed within communities, to try to respond to the needs of tamariki M\u0101ori in a better way.<\/p>\n
The report profiles three iwi-led initiatives which are showing success, including Te P\u016bk\u0101ea o te Waiora in Whakat\u0101ne, where help is asked of Ng\u0101ti Awa Social Services in the first instance and it makes the decision about whether a statutory response from Oranga Tamariki is needed.<\/p>\n
Initiatives like Te P\u016bk\u0101ea o te Waiora show success in providing timely support and reducing system involvement. Photo \/ Alan Gibson<\/p>\n
\u201cBut we know a lot of reports of concern aren\u2019t at that level that requires that state involvement, but are about putting support in place for the family so they can continue to hopefully care for their young people in that family environment, but have the help that they need,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n