Care-experienced rangatahi are adamant the state has yet to honour the six promises made to children in care, and warn that unless the sector starts listening to the voices of young people, it risks not meeting the needs of another generation of tamariki.
Kei te rongo koe? Are you listening? is the primary enquiry of VOYCE – Whakarongo Mai’s inaugural biennial state of care report. Informed by the experiences of hundreds of care experienced tamariki and rangatahi, highlights an important reality: despite years of discussions and assessments, there is still significant room for improvement in the care system.
Co-written by VOYCE and care experienced advocates Ihorangi Reweti Peters and Lisa McLaren, the 80 page document gathers information from more than 50 existing submissions and 140 official reports that already feature the voices of young people. “This is the state of care according to young people, but it was obvious we didn’t need to ask them to retell their stories in care, and it was important that we didn’t because retelling them is so painful. Those stories were already out there for the world to see and they should have been properly heard from the beginning” says Reweti Peters. From that evidence, the latest report assesses whether the “Six Promises” – first laid out in 2020, are being kept in 2025.
“Developed by young people in care, the Six Promises are based on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCROC) and if kept, they would ensure tamariki and rangatahi receive the love, support and opportunities every child deserves” says McLaren.
“After a lack of action we marched to parliament and delivered a petition in 2023, and now through this new report we’re keeping score on how well each promise is being kept in 2025.”
Reweti Peters and McLaren say the Six Promises are the bare minimum of care.
1. I promise to take care of you and make sure you have the things you need 2. I promise to make sure you have safety and stability in your life
3. I promise to help you with your education goals and dreams
4. I promise to support you with healthcare when you need it
5. I promise to listen and include you when decisions are made about you
6. I promise to help you feel confident in who you are, and learn about your whakapapa, ..culture and language.
WHAT’S THE SCORE?
The latest report introduces a scorecard that rates the state’s performance on each of the promises. Not a single one scores above 5 out of 10, and the promise to ensure safety and stability – the absolute baseline of care, scores just 1.9.
Reweti Peters says he’s not surprised by the results.
“These scores show that the agencies which interact with New Zealand’s most vulnerable young people need to do more to improve the lives of our Tamariki and Rangatahi.” “I hope that these scores will improve.”
McLaren agrees and says it’s disappointing to see the scores so low.
“It truly is an indictment of how the care system is going, even post the royal commission of inquiry into abuse in state care and faith based institutions.”
“One thing I want to stress is that this report shows how every government agency is a piece in the puzzle when it comes to caring for our most vulnerable tamariki and rangatahi. I implore all government agencies to work together alongside Oranga Tamariki to improve these scores – and think seriously and creatively about how they can put safeguards in place as a part of their scope of practice.”
The pair say parts of the report are a grim read, and reaffirms what many across the sector already knew:
That tamariki are still being harmed in care, with over 500 children hurt in state custody last year alone.
That some rangatahi are living in cars, garages or motels instead of homes. That over 1,000 young people in care don’t have a social worker.
That many are being turned away from schools, denied mental health care, or left without stable housing after leaving care.
And that in too many cases, their voices are still not being heard.
“We want to be very clear – this report is about tamariki and rangatahi in the care of Oranga Tamariki, but it’s not just about Oranga Tamariki” says Reweti Peters.
“Every agency whose actions (or lack of actions) impact tamariki and rangatahi in care must be accountable for acting on this report. This is your responsibility as our State ‘parents’.”
Alongside the scorecard, the report is also filled with quotes from children and young people, their personal reflections on findings, their questions, solutions and hopes for the future.
“In the report we draw attention to gaps and concerns, but we also highlight areas of strength and good practice” says McLaren.
WHAT NEXT?
The report issues three urgent calls on behalf of all care-experienced rangatahi to those in power:
1. Put us ahead of politics – commit to cross-party, long-term care reform that doesn’t ..change with the government of the day.
2. Make us a priority – all agencies, not just Oranga Tamariki, must take responsibility for ..outcomes for tamariki in care.
3. Tell us how you’re going to do better – respond publicly, with specific plans for action, ..before the next report and scorecard in 2027.
McLaren says it also makes a plea to the public.
“Tamariki in care need to know they belong, that they are loved, and that Aotearoa believes in them.”
VOYCE – Whakarongo Mai CEO Tracie Shipton says Kei te rongo koe? means ‘Are you listening?
“We believe the report offers a tool to build cross-agency support for ambitious improvements, and we want to work together with them on this.”
“We know where the government’s focus must be in 2025 and 2026, and what we need now isn’t more promises, it’s proof.”
ABOUT VOYCE:
We are VOYCE – Whakarongo Mai, which stands for Voices of the Young and Care Experienced – Listen to me. Established in 2017, we are an independent charity organisation that helps to advocate for the approximately 6000 children with care experience (children in foster or whanau care) in New Zealand.
We exist to amplify the voices of these children and ensure that they are heard – so as to positively influence their individual care and to collectively affect change in the wider care system. VOYCE was co-designed by children with care experience for children with care experience.