IN-CONFIDENCE
OIA-CE-2025-02925
13 May 2025
Yasir Shaikh
[FYI request #30931 email]
Tēnā koe Yasir
On 8 May 2025, you emailed Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children (Oranga
Tamariki) requesting, under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act), the following
information:
1. Annual Statistics:
o
Total number of children under 16 reported missing each year.
o
Breakdown by age groups (e.g., 0–4, 5–9, 10–13, 14–15).
o
Breakdown by gender.
2. Categorized Reasons for Disappearance:
o
Number of cases attributed to each of the following categories:
o
Exposure to parental substance abuse (e.g., drugs, alcohol).
o
Family violence or domestic abuse.
o
Neglect or inadequate supervision.
o
Family separation or custody disputes.
o
Other specified reasons (please detail).
3. State Care Involvement:
o
Number of missing children who were in the care or custody of Oranga
Tamariki at the time of disappearance.
o
Breakdown of reasons for disappearance among children in state
care.
4. Recovery Data:
o
Number of children recovered each year.
o
Average duration of absence before recovery.
o
Number of cases remaining unresolved each year.
5. Preventative Measures and Protocols:
o
Description of current protocols and procedures followed when a child
is reported missing.
o
Preventative measures in place to reduce the incidence of missing
children.
o
Support services provided to recovered children and their families.
This letter is to advise you that I am transferring your request in part under section
14(b)(i) of the Act, as I believe that the information is not held by Oranga Tamariki, but
is held by New Zealand Police. Specifically, parts one, two, four, and five have been
transferred to the New Zealand Police for response. You can expect to hear from them
IN-CONFIDENCE
in due course. Oranga Tamariki wil provide a response to the remaining part of your
request.
If you are not satisfied with this response, you have the right to ask an Ombudsman
to review this decision. Information about this is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or by contacting them on 0800 802 602.
Nāku noa, nā
Jarrod Williams
Manager Ministerial Services
System Leadership
Document Outline
