Open Letter to Minister Chhour 

To: Hon Karen Chhour, Minister for Children 

Kia ora Minister Chhour,  

We are writing to you today with a deep concern for the wellbeing and safety of tamariki across Aotearoa. 

Every tamaiti in Aotearoa, whether in the care of whānau or the state, deserves to grow up with safety and stability, wrapped in aroha.  

However, right now, far too many tamariki are being failed by a care system that is under-resourced, disconnected from whakapapa, and lacking a focus on preventing harm before it happens. 

Social workers are overwhelmed, facing dangerously high caseloads. Community providers are dealing with funding cuts and funding uncertainty every year. Independent oversight recommendations are constantly ignored. Far too many children in our care system are not having their fundamental rights met.  

As Minister for Children, you hold responsibility to ensure this system upholds the rights and dignity of every child in Aotearoa. 

That is why we are asking you to commit to a ‘Duty of Care’. A set of seven core promises that speak to the fundamental system change required protect tamariki, put them at the heart of government decision making and deliver a system that truly serves children. 

These duties of care are based on the voices and lived experience of care-experienced young people, whānau, community providers, Māori leaders, and the recommendations of several inquiries. They reflect the values of te Tiriti o Waitangi and the rights guaranteed under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Detailed below, these duties of care  are backed by clear, achievable policy commitments: 

The seven duties of care 

1. Every child’s whānau and whakapapa must be centred 
   Tamariki Māori remain disproportionately effected in a colonial state care system. We call for legislative reform to embed whānau and hapū leadership in decisions about tamariki and to re-centre care around whakapapa guided by mana enhancing processes.
2. Every child must be free from poverty 
   Poverty is a key driver of harm. We call for bold income support reforms including a universal payment and a simplified Family Top Up scheme to ensure every child grows up with the resources they need to thrive.
3. Every child must be supported, every step of their journey
   Children often fall through the cracks of the systems designed to protect them. We call for long term investment in prevention, trauma informed care and strong transition pathways, ensuring that funding and support follows the child across government service providers at all stages of life.
4. Every child must be heard, respected, and placed at the heart of decision-making
   Tamariki are still too often excluded from the systems meant to protect them. We call for the full incorporation of the UN children’s rights into domestic legislation, safeguarded funding for independent advocacy and mandatory child impact assessments in all government decisions. 
5. Every child must be protected
   Oversight without binding recommendations is not enough. We call for strong, independent, enforceable oversight of the care system including full implementation of all 138 recommendations of the Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in Care. 
6. Every child must have a stable, nurturing home
   Too many children face multiple care placements once in the Oranga Tamariki care system, and as such, lack the secure relationships they need. We call for a professional caregiving accreditation model, strong support for caregivers and clear accountability between the state and care providers.
7. Every child is cared for by a well-supported workforce  
   Workforce shortages, high caseloads and a lack of trauma-informed training undermine care quality. We call for equitable and fair pay, manageable workloads and targeted workforce development that prioritises community providers.

Join us. Sign below to demand a care system that finally puts children at the heart of Government decision making.