Children

services and systems

Bill drawn to ensure young people aren't made homeless when leaving Oranga Tamariki

The Green Party bill requiring the government to make sure young people leaving state care have a safe, stable home to move into has been drawn as a member's bill today, the same day the Government begins the process of criminalising homelessness."On the day this Government chooses to punish people for being homeless, we are choosing to make sure no young person leaving state care ends up on the street in the first place," says Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson. ...

Posted at May 21, 2026 2:08 PM by Marama Davidson

people and communities

One year on from apology, Government still missing in action

Today marks one year since the Government’s formal apology to survivors of abuse in state care. On that day, words were spoken that recognised the harm done, acknowledged the suffering that was endured, and promised change.“One year on, we must question the value of an apology made by a Government that refuses to listen and respond to the voices of survivors,” says the Green Party’s Spokesperson for Children, Kahurangi Carter. “Survivors have repeatedly called for the Government to implement all...

Posted at November 12, 2025 8:45 AM by Kahurangi Carter

people and communities

Green Party launches open letter to Minister for Children

The Green Party has launched an open letter calling on the Minister of Children to adopt seven promises to children in state care. “We are urging the Minister to ensure no more tamariki fall into harm,” says Green Party co-leader, Marama Davidson. “Every child in Aotearoa deserves to grow up with safety and stability, wrapped in aroha. Unfortunately, too many of our children in state care are being failed by our Government. “The Minister of Children’s responsibility is for children in...

Posted at August 15, 2025 1:33 PM by Marama Davidson

people and communities

New report confirms Oranga Tamariki is failing tamariki and Government is failing Māori

A new report, ‘Outcomes for tamariki and rangatahi Māori and their whānau in the oranga tamariki system 2023/24,’ has confirmed that Oranga Tamariki is severely failing our most vulnerable Māori youth. “The Government is setting our tamariki up to fail by throwing them into a system that harms instead of helps our kids who are most in need," says the Green Party’s spokesperson for Children, Kahurangi Carter. “Our tamariki and rangatahi deserve to be loved, nurtured and safe in whānau and...

Posted at June 11, 2025 3:55 PM by Kahurangi Carter

people and communities

Report exposes damage of rushed cuts to Oranga Tamariki

Today’s report into last year’s Oranga Tamariki contract procurement process confirms the Government’s brutal cuts were rushed, poorly managed, and made with no concern for the impact on tamariki.“It is now crystal clear that these cuts have come at the expense of the safety and wellbeing of our children,” says the Green Party spokesperson for Children, Kahurangi Carter. “All tamariki in Aotearoa have the right to be loved, nurtured and safe in whānau and communities that have what they need...

Posted at May 15, 2025 4:01 PM by Kahurangi Carter

people and communities

Green Party stands in support of survivors of abuse in care

Today, the Green Party stands alongside the survivors of abuse in state care and faith-based care as the Government issues an historic apology.“Today marks a long-awaited acknowledgment of the harm and trauma endured by survivors," says the Green Party’s Spokesperson for Children, Kahurangi Carter. “This is a significant milestone which recognises the years of courage and resilience required to bring these survivor experiences to light, despite efforts by the state over the decades to cover up the abuses they suffered....

Posted at November 12, 2024 11:00 AM by Kahurangi Carter

people and communities

Without action, an apology will be empty air

For tomorrow’s apology to survivors of abuse in state and faith-based care to hold any water, the Government must not pursue the same policies that drove the abuse in the first place.“An apology without accountability - or worse, actively perpetuating the same harms - is nothing more than empty air" says the Green Party’s Spokesperson for Children, Kahurangi Carter. “This Government has a responsibility to ensure that no one ever again suffers the horrific abuses these survivors have. The Government...

Posted at November 11, 2024 12:01 PM by Kahurangi Carter

people and communities

Govt undermines OT frontline services, breaks pledge

The Minister for Children Karen Chhour’s pledge that cuts to Oranga Tamariki would not impact frontline services has been broken.“This Government’s broken promises and callous cuts to frontline services will see our rangatahi continue to suffer,” says the Green Party spokesperson for Children Kahurangi Carter. “The minister promised that her cuts wouldn’t affect frontline services, but just this week we’ve seen a core provider, Tākai, announce its closure - a sad demise for an organisation that provided critical support to...

Posted at July 31, 2024 1:00 PM by Kahurangi Carter

people and communities

Govt must listen to experiences of abuse survivors

The Government must do all it can to bring abuse in care to an end following the release of the independent inquiry. “We cannot let history repeat itself, we must learn from our mistakes and bring abuse in care to an end,” says the Green Party Spokesperson for Children, Kahurangi Carter. “The difficult journeys and harrowing testimonies from survivors who contributed to the Royal Commission of Inquiry cannot be ignored. It is incumbent on the Government to listen and learn from...

Posted at July 24, 2024 4:01 PM by Kahurangi Carter

people and communities

Government ignorant of evidence in neglect of tamariki

Today’s justification from the Minister for Children for scrapping protections for our tamariki was either a case of ignorance or deliberate deception. “Severe neglect and tremendous incompetence have completely consumed this Government’s approach to our tamariki. Minister Chhour is attempting to use a mixture of smoke, mirrors and blatant disinformation to cloud over the damage the repeal of 7AA will do,’ says Green Party spokesperson for Children, Kahurangi Carter.  “Minister Chhour’s comments that Section 7AA creates conflict for Oranga Tamariki when...

Posted at May 14, 2024 2:52 PM by Kahurangi Carter

services and systems

Time to get serious on delivering for families

The Green Party calls on the Government to get serious about supporting families.“Tax rebates for childcare will be nothing more than a drop in the ocean for families struggling to get by,” says Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson.  “It is insulting for the Government to offer support for childcare if in every other area of life they are going to make life so much harder. Once again, National is demonstrating that they're not actually interested in supporting people.  “Parents are...

Posted at March 25, 2024 4:38 PM by Marama Davidson

people and communities

Greens welcome paid parental leave increase, urge Govt to go further

The Green Party is today welcoming the increase in paid parental leave payments, but is urging the Government to continue supporting families when leave ends.“We need to make sure our tamariki have the best possible start in life, and are supported to grow and thrive. With rising food prices, high childcare costs and less secure jobs, many parents are struggling to pay for things like warm clothes and food. Our Income Guarantee would make sure every child gets the support...

Posted at June 19, 2023 4:47 PM by Marama Davidson

people and communities

National would make life harder for people

Christopher Luxon and the National Party are not telling the full story when it comes to childcare, the Green Party says.“Childcare is a public good, not an individual work expense. All tamariki deserve the best start in life, and need a Government that will take action to raise incomes and invest in better access to early childhood education,” the co-leader of the Green Party, Marama Davidson says.  “Making childcare more affordable for families requires Green Party action across a range...

Posted at March 05, 2023 1:41 PM by Marama Davidson