A new unit for child protection.
The Government has established a Child Protection Investigation Unit to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children in care. Led by Janis Adair, a former police detective and current Chief Inspector at the Office of the Inspectorate, the unit will investigate cases where state-provided care has caused harm to children.
The unit's objectives include conducting rigorous investigations, identifying systemic failures within Oranga Tamariki, providing a voice for survivors, and promoting accountability throughout the care system. This initiative reflects the Government's commitment to learning from past failures and restoring trust in the Care System.
The new unit will operate independently and be operational at the beginning of 2025. Its establishment follows recent promises by Oranga Tamariki's Acting Chief Executive Andrew Bridgman to do better and demand better from the care system, following a report by the Royal Commission into abuse in state care. The Government aims for the unit to address gaps in the children's care system and protect children at risk of harm.