Minister for Children Karen Chhour is calling on anyone able to provide a loving and stable environment for a child to seriously consider becoming a caregiver.

The first 12-month Military-Style Academy pilot has now concluded, having provided support and opportunities that have made our communities safer and turned young lives around.

Minister for Children Karen Chhour has announced that the residential workforce is being boosted by an investment in their professionalisation.  

New quarterly data shows the Government is on track to deliver on both law and order targets ahead of schedule, Minister for Children Karen Chhour and Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith say.

Initiatives to help serious and persistent young offenders turn their lives around, and improvements to facilities for them, have been given a significant financial boost in Budget 2025. 

Public reporting on key performance indicators for Oranga Tamariki show the Ministry is making strong progress on its most important goals.

Children’s Minister Karen Chhour has received confirmation that Oranga Tamariki have made progress on the removal of targets not focused on child safety and wellbeing.

Children’s Minister Karen Chhour has welcomed the passing of legislation to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act by Parliament.

Investment in technology upgrades at Oranga Tamariki will free up social workers to spend more time with families, improve collaboration and transparency.

The Government has agreed to discharge Labour’s redundant ram raid bill and instead focus on a more targeted response, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Minister for Children Karen Chhour say.

Minister for Children Karen Chhour has intervened in Oranga Tamariki’s review of social service provider contracts to ensure Barnardos can continue to deliver its 0800 What’s Up hotline.

Minister for Children and for Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence Karen Chhour is encouraging people to use the resources available to them to get help, and to report instances of family and sexual violence amongst their friends, families, and loved ones who are in need.

Children’s Minister Karen Chhour has welcomed the release of the first quarter of Oranga Tamariki performance data.

A new Child Protection Investigation Unit is being established to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children in care, Minister for Children Karen Chhour says. 

The Oranga Tamariki (Responding to Serious Youth Offending) Bill had its first reading at Parliament today. The Bill reaffirms the Government’s commitment to crack down on serious youth offending, Minister for Children Karen Chhour says. 

One of the ten young men selected to participate in the Military-Style Academy Pilot has allegedly reoffended. Children’s Minister Karen Chhour is disappointed but says it would be naïve to think that none of these young men would reoffend.

Minister for Children Karen Chhour will consider the recommendations made by the Social Services and Community Committee in its report back to Parliament on the Oranga Tamariki (Repeal of Section 7AA) Amendment Bill.

Mr Speaker, as the Minister for Children, it is my priority to ensure that children and young people in the care system are safe.

Changes to the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 included in an Omnibus Bill are long overdue and a positive step in the right direction, Minister for Children Karen Chhour says.

Minister for Children Karen Chhour wants to clarify the facts following Chloe Swarbrick’s questions in Parliament this afternoon about the incident at Korowai Manaaki this week.