Changes to section 66 of the Oranga Tamariki 1989 Act include new provisions. These came into effect from July 1, 2019 and give child welfare and protection agencies the ability to request, collect, use, and share personal information for purposes related to the wellbeing and safety of tamariki.

The new provisions are designed to put the child at the centre, and enable the right support and services to be provided to them and their whānau.

Guidance on how to apply the new provisions has been developed with input from a wide range of agencies and frontline staff from across the social services sector.

The guidance outlines how you should consult with tamariki about sharing their information if appropriate. (From the website).

Other resources are available on the Oranga Tamariki website, including the one-page fact sheet (see direct link).

If you have any questions about the guidance or how it relates to your practice, you can contact the Oranga Tamariki helpline. Email: infosharinghelpline@ot.govt.nz or telephone: 0508 463 674

The Ministry of Justice has prepared separate guidelines for sharing information under the Family Violence Act (#6321) and the fact sheet: "Information sharing under the Family Violence Act 2018 and Oranga Tamariki Act 1989" which explains how the Family Violence Act and Oranga Tamariki Act guidance documents work together (see direct link).

Further explanation is found in the NZFVC news item. Record #6321