Source: Radio New Zealand
State abuse survivor Keith Wiffin. Reece Baker/RNZ
A man who was abused in state care is “angry and saddened” that the number of children and young people being abused in care has continued to increase.
The Independent Children’s Monitor’s latest report said 530 tamaraki and rangatahi were abused in state care during the 2024/25 year, up from 507 during the 2023/24 year.
State abuse survivor Keith Wiffin said that was difficult for him and many other survivors to hear.
“In particular the 3000 courageous survivors who gave testimony to the royal comission on the basis that the appalling rates of abuse that continue would cease and we would see change and improvement.”
But he said the government and faith based institutions had not made enough changes after the Royal Comission on Abuse in Care.
“They have generally ignored the findings and recommendations of the royal comission, and therefore been contemptous of it, and that’s played a role in these continuing appalling rates of abuse.”
Keith Wiffin was abused in state care in the 1970s at Epuni boys home in the Hutt Valley and testified to the Royal Comission.
He said tinkering with the care system would not work, and fundamental change was needed for things to improve.
“That approach is: families, communties, iwi, hapu need to be resourced to look after their own. The best way to stop abuse in care is to see our young don’t go into care in the first place.”
Keith Wiffin said during his time in state care, he had a good social worker but he was completely overworked with a caseload of 80 boys.
Independent Children’s Monitor chief executive, Arran Jones, said social workers being overworked was still a problem today.
“Social workers spend a lot of time trying to find homes for young people that have to be removed from mum and dad … so that places pressure on the social work day job.
“The second thing is trying to access the help these kids need – so time taken negotiating with health and education over who will pay for supports.”
The report found a third of tamariki and rangatahi were not being visited by their social worker as often as they should be.
It also highlighted problems acessing health and education services, and Jones suggested prioritising tamaraki and rangatahi in care for these services over the general population.
“Because what the evidence tells us is tamariki in care have far worse outcomes into their adult lives than other children.”
Oranga Tamariki has been working on a National Care Standards Action Plan since early last year which Jones hoped would make a difference.
“This is the first time in the six years I’ve seen Oranga Tamariki commit to a very clear actionable plan. So this is a positive sign.”
Minister responds
Minister for Children Karen Chhour. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Minister for Children Karen Chhour said turning around generations of failures would not happen overnight, but she believed the most recent data from Oranga Tamariki showed progress was being made towards a stronger safety net for young people in care.
Chhour acknowledged the report identified silos and gaps between government agencies and said she had spoken to ministerial colleagues about working more closely together.
She said she was particularly proud of the progress towards working more closely with communities, strategic partners, and iwi and hapu
Oranga Tamariki responds
Oranga Tamariki chief social worker Nicolette Dickson. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Oranga Tamariki chief social worker, Nicolette Dickson, said it had seen performance improvements in eight out of the 10 focus areas in the National Care Standards Action Plan, and was confident about seeing sustained improvements through a focus on that work.
Dickson said more tamariki were being supported to remain safely with their whānau, and of those surveyed, 96 percent of children in care said they felt safe, 90 percent felt supported to achieve their goals and 89 percent felt they had somewhere to belong.
She agreed there were a number of areas to improve on, but said the organisation was on the right track to address them.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
