Independent Children's Monitor report, June 2023 (published February 2024).

"Three years of reporting has shown that the minimum standards set out in the NCS Regulations are not consistently being met. There has been some improvement in compliance, and we heard about pockets of good practice where agencies
worked together to support tamariki and rangatahi.

However, we are still hearing from tamariki, rangatahi, whānau and professionals that there is more to be done and crucially, findings of abuse and neglect have increased.

The key findings in this report are similar to those of previous years." (From Key findings).

"This is our third report on experiences of care, agency compliance with the National Care Standards and Related Matters Regulations (NCS Regulations). We have now visited every region in Aotearoa New Zealand, and have a comprehensive view of how tamariki (children) and rangatahi (young people) experience care.

Over the last three years, there has been some improvement in Oranga Tamariki compliance with the NCS Regulations. For Open Home Foundation, there has been continued improvement in its compliance and care practice.

Many tamariki and rangatahi we met with told us they feel safe, supported and cared for. They talked positively about having someone in their lives they could turn to. This could be their caregiver, social worker, sibling or parent.

However, overall, the voices of tamariki, rangatahi, caregivers, whānau (extended family) and professionals, as well as Oranga Tamariki data, tell us the NCS Regulations have not been implemented well enough. Not all tamariki and rangatahi are having their basic needs met, including fundamental
requirements such as being seen by their social worker, proper support for their caregivers, and access to health, education and other services.

Despite a decrease in the number of tamariki and rangatahi in the custody of Oranga Tamariki, an increased number are being abused or neglected. (From the Foreword). Record #8542