IN-CONFIDENCE
8 February 2023
Bruce
[FYI request #21459 email] Tēnā koe Bruce
Thank you for your email of 20 December 2022 to Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children
(Oranga Tamariki), requesting the following information under the Official Information Act 1982
(the Act):
•
I wish to enquire about whether any children in the care of Oranga Tamariki-appointed
caregivers were taken from these caregivers by OT at or immediately after their
attendance of the Wellington Parliament Protests in February and March 2022 due to
concerns regarding their safety at the protest camp.
We have interpreted your question as asking whether any tamariki in the care of the Chief
Executive of Oranga Tamariki were removed from their normal caregivers who attended the
Wellington Parliament Protest, either at the protest itself or immediately afterwards.
I can confirm that the New Zealand Police are the lead agency in responding to protest action in
locations across New Zealand regarding COVID-19 mandates and more specifically the
Parliament protest in early 2022. The primary role of Oranga Tamariki was to be ready to respond
to the safety and wellbeing needs of tamariki, rangatahi and their whānau if issues arose, and to
be ready to respond to any youth offending needs by supporting Police.
A decision to move tamariki from caregivers, whether these are their parents, whānau or non-kin,
is significant and can have a serious impact on the wellbeing of tamariki. A range of factors may
contribute to tamariki needing to move from their caregivers, including serious and immediate
concerns for their safety, caregivers being unwilling or unable to continue to care for tamariki, or
it may be part of an agreed transition plan working towards returning tamariki to the permanent
care of their parents or whānau. A caregiver’s attendance at the Wellington Parliament Protests
alone would not be a reason to move tamariki from their caregiver.
Information to answer your question on tamariki in care being removed from their normal
caregivers who attended the protest, or immediately afterwards, for any reason is not readily
available as this information would be recorded on individual case files. Analysis of individual
case files to the extent required to provide an answer to your question would involve extensive
manual collation. Therefore, I am refusing your request under Section 18(f) of the Act, as the
information requested cannot be made available without substantial collation or research.
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IN-CONFIDENCE
I encourage you to raise any concerns about this response with us directly by contacting
[email address]. Alternatively, you are advised of your right to also raise any concerns
with the Office of the Ombudsman by contacting them on 0800 802 602.
Nāku noa, nā
Simon Harding
General Manager Business Operations
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