Aroturuki Tamariki – the Independent Children’s Monitor, Kaitiaki Mana Tangata – the Office of the Ombudsman and a new Children and Young People’s Commission, which replaces Manaakitia a Tātou Tamariki – the Office of the Children’s Commissioner, have jointly published a guide to advocacy, monitoring and complaints for tamariki, rangatahi, and their whānau. This guide will be shared with kaimahi to inform their work with tamariki, rangatahi and whānau. The brochure can be downloaded from the Ombudsman website.
We welcome the strengthened oversight and monitoring by the external monitors with the introduction of new legislation last year.
The Oversight of Oranga Tamariki System Act came into force on 1 May 2023, and the Children and Young People’s Commission Act came into effect on 1 July 2023.
The legislation strengthens oversight by:
- establishing an independent monitoring agency for the system – Aroturuki Tamariki, the Independent Children’s Monitor – relating to the operations and obligations delivered under the Oranga Tamariki Act and associated regulations
- providing a more robust complaints and investigation function for children in the care or custody of the state, led by the Ombudsman
- strengthening system-level advocacy for all children and young people, led by the Children and Young People’s Commission.