Purpose
Measuring disparity and disproportionality is complex and there is no one single or right measure. In 2020, Oranga Tamariki developed a framework for the ongoing measurement of disparity and disproportionality in the care and protection system.
This framework has been applied to better understand and report on disparities experienced by tamariki Māori in the care and protection system.
Key Results
- Tamariki Māori are consistently more likely to be reported to Oranga Tamariki than non-Māori tamariki.
- 79 of every 1000 tamariki Māori are reported to Oranga Tamariki, compared to 23 non-Māori tamariki.
- The percentage of children that move from a Family Group Conference to care has decreased since the establishment of Oranga Tamariki. In recent years, tamariki Māori were slightly less likely to enter care following a Family Group Conference than non-Māori.
- Over the past decade, tamariki Māori accounted for more than half of all children entering care.
- Entries to care have decreased over the past few years. In the latest year, for every 1000 tamariki Māori, around 2 entered care, compared with fewer than 1 for non-Māori.
- The overall care population has been increasing over the last decade to F2019, at which point it has begun to decrease. These changes have been driven by an increase (and subsequent decrease) in the number of tamariki Māori in care.
- As at 30 Hune 2022, for every 1000 tamariki Māori, 11 were in care, compared with 2 for non-Māori.