Chief Children's Commissioner Dr Claire Achmad on the increase in harm for children in state care

Chief Children's Commissioner Dr Claire Achmad talked to Nick Mills on the increase in harm for children in state care. This comes after Karen Chhour, Minister for Children and for the prevention of Family and Sexual Violence, celebrated a 14% decrease in harm within youth justice and care and protection residences.

Dr Achmad said although this reduction is a good step, in other areas of state care the numbers are rising. Oranga Tamariki's annual report shows 530 children experienced harm in 2024, an increase of 23 children. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:07):
You're listening to the Wellington Mornings podcast with Nick Mills
from News TALKSB.

Speaker 2 (00:13):
We have got doctor Claiarkman on the line.

Speaker 3 (00:16):
Good morning doctor, Good morning Nick, thanks for having me.

Speaker 2 (00:20):
Thank you for coming on. I've got a couple of
very serious questions. Is the situation at along a Tamaiki
getting any better?

Speaker 3 (00:32):
Well, you're right, Nick, this is a very serious issue
and it's important that we talk about it. So this
week we have seen yesterday actually ordering a Tamadiki publish
it's Safety and Care Report. Now. That report outlines data
about the numbers of children in our state care system
who are experiencing abuse on neglect, and what we've actually

(00:55):
seen on this data is that overall harm for children
in our state care system has actually increased over the
past year. That is unacceptable the data. It's important that
we look at it as a whole, and there are
some positive aspects areas in which we are seeing a
slight decrease in harm for children in different kinds of spaces,

(01:20):
But overall I remain really concerned that we are seeing
harm going in the wrong directions.

Speaker 2 (01:27):
Where aren't we seeing the increases on justice of secured units?

Speaker 3 (01:32):
No, actually, if we look at the data carefully, we
see that there has been a slight reduction in the
number of children experiencing harm in those residences that you mention.
But actually if we look at another group of children,
those are called the return remain home children, we've actually

(01:52):
seen a twenty three percent increase in harm experienced by
that group of children. So it's really important that we
look at the whole picture here.

Speaker 2 (02:01):
So do you think we're getting better or not?

Speaker 3 (02:05):
Well, I think that there are are signs of progress.
At the moment, they are small. I want to see
this continued progress to be sustained. I want it to
be an urgent focus that continues for Unga Tamariki. I've
been saying throughout my ten year as Children's Commissioner Orunga
Tamariki needs to focus on getting the basics right for

(02:27):
children and its care, and that starts with their safety
and their safety needs to be sustained over time.

Speaker 2 (02:35):
How would you feel if one of your family members
were under the care of Aroma Tamariki.

Speaker 3 (02:46):
Well, I think we have to look at the reality,
which is against the context of the findings of the
Royal Commission inter Abuse in state care. We're almost up
to the point where it's been a year since that
national apology last year. Twelve November this year will be
the first day of National remembrance in the context and
track cord of stake here in this country is not

(03:09):
a positive one and in fact we have seen that
this system has caused immeasurable harm to children and young
people over decades. We see that there is still a
lot of progress that needs to be made. So I
would naturally have consent.

Speaker 2 (03:25):
O gosh, do you have Do you hold just a
yes or no, because I've got to go, But do
you hold hope that this is the organization that can
help us.

Speaker 3 (03:37):
I will always have hope and we absolutely must get
it right. We actually know what looks and that is
a focus on safety, having good staff in these facilities
who are well trained, and having the right support wrapped
around these children and young people and their families Infarno
because harm prevention it is possible. We just need to

(03:58):
see this continued urgent focus.

Speaker 2 (04:01):
Thank you very much for joining us, doctor Claire Aukmann,
and thank you for doing what you do. Thank you
for doing the job that you do.

Speaker 1 (04:09):
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