Independent Children's Monitor
{{short description|New Zealand government agency}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=April 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox government agency
| agency_name = Independent Children's Monitor
| native_name = {{native name|mi|Aroturuki Tamariki}}
| type = Agency
| seal =
| logo = Aroturuki Tamariki logo, 2024.png
| formed = 2019
| jurisdiction = New Zealand
| headquarters =
| coordinates =
| employees =
| budget =
| minister1_name = Karen Chhour
| minister1_pfo = Oranga Tamariki
| chief1_name = Arran Jones
| chief1_position = Chief Executive
| website = {{Official website|https://aroturuki.govt.nz/}}
}}
The Independent Children's Monitor ({{langx|mi|Aroturuki Tamariki}}) is a departmental agency within New Zealand's Education Review Office.{{cite news |title=Chief Executive of Aroturuki Tamariki – Independent Children’s Monitor appointed |url=https://www.publicservice.govt.nz/news/chief-executive-of-aroturuki-tamariki-independent-childrens-monitor-appointed/ |access-date=25 December 2023 |work=Public Service Commission |date=13 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230812092609/https://www.publicservice.govt.nz/news/chief-executive-of-aroturuki-tamariki-independent-childrens-monitor-appointed/ |archive-date=12 August 2023}} It was established by the New Zealand Government in 2019 to ensure organisations working with children, young people, and their families were complying with the National Care Standards.{{cite web |title=Aroturuki Tamariki – Independent Children's Monitor |url=https://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/others-who-can-help/complaints-a-z/aroturuki-tamariki-independent-childrens-monitor |publisher=Office of the Ombudsman |access-date=25 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231225101557/https://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/others-who-can-help/complaints-a-z/aroturuki-tamariki-independent-childrens-monitor |archive-date=25 December 2023}}{{cite web |title=About us |url=https://aroturuki.govt.nz/about-us |publisher=Aroturuki Tamariki |access-date=25 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204083648/https://aroturuki.govt.nz/about-us |archive-date=4 December 2023 |url-status=live}} On 1 May 2023, its role was expanded to include oversight over the entire Oranga Tamariki (Ministry for Children) system. As of 2023, Arran Jones was the Chief Executive of the Independent Children's Monitor while Nova Banaghan served as the Chief Monitor.
Leadership and functions
Arran Jones serves as Chief Executive of the Independent Children's Monitor while Nova Banaghan served as the Chief Monitor.{{cite web |title=Aroturuki Tamariki: Independent Children’s Monitor |url=https://www.govt.nz/organisations/aroturuki-tamariki/ |website=Govt.nz |publisher=New Zealand Government |access-date=25 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231225113846/https://www.govt.nz/organisations/aroturuki-tamariki/ |archive-date=25 December 2023 |url-status=live}} The Monitors are also supported by several Māori leaders known as Te Kāhui. As of 2023, Te Kāhui consists of Tā Mark Solomon, Druis Barrett, Katie Murray and Eugene Ryder. The Independent Children's Monitor also reports to Minister for Social Development and Employment Louise Upston.
The Independent Children's Monitor is governed by the Oversight of Oranga Tamariki System Act 2022, which requires the agency to act independently of all government agencies that it monitors. Per law, its operations and findings are independent of government ministers and agencies. The Monitor also submits its reports to Parliament, whose Ministers do not have the power to comment on drafts. The Independent Children's Monitor also works with the Children and Young People's Commission and the Office of the Ombudsman.{{cite news |last1=Hill |first1=Ruth |title=New monitor promises to be vigilant over Oranga Tamariki |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/492469/new-monitor-promises-to-be-vigilant-over-oranga-tamariki |access-date=25 December 2023 |work=Radio New Zealand |date=23 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801063457/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/492469/new-monitor-promises-to-be-vigilant-over-oranga-tamariki |archive-date=1 August 2023}} While the Commission focuses more on advocacy, the Children's Monitor is primarily a monitoring agency.{{cite news |title=Children’s Commissioner no more as new oversight Children and Young People’s Commission launches |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/childrens-commissioner-no-more-as-new-oversight-children-and-young-peoples-commission-launches/FZRQYYLOEJAJFO4SAWMW6UOCEE/ |access-date=25 December 2023 |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=1 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230805193617/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/childrens-commissioner-no-more-as-new-oversight-children-and-young-peoples-commission-launches/FZRQYYLOEJAJFO4SAWMW6UOCEE/ |archive-date=5 August 2023}}
The Children's Monitor monitors the Oranga Tamaraki system by ensure that organisations working with children and young people comply with their goals and legal requirements, monitor compliance with the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989, National Care Standards regulations, and the Oversight of the Oranga Tamariki System Act 2022, and monitor systems-based performance by using an outcomes-based approach to vulnerable children and young people. Besides interacting with children, young people and their communities, the Children's Monitor also works with government agencies such as Oranga Tamariki and the New Zealand Police, and community organisations including Māori and iwi (tribal) organisations.
History
The Independent Children's Monitor was established in 2019 to ensure that organisations working with children and young people complied with the Government's National Care Standards. It was first established as a business unit of the Ministry of Social Development.
In August 2022, the Sixth Labour Government passed two new laws replacing the Office of the Children's Commissioner with the Children and Young People's Commission and sharing oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system between the Independent Monitor and Ombudsman.{{cite news |last1=Palmer |first1=Russell |title=Labour passes Oranga Tamariki reforms despite opposition from other parties |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/473421/labour-passes-oranga-tamariki-reforms-despite-opposition-from-other-parties |access-date=25 August 2022 |work=Radio New Zealand |date=24 August 2022}}{{cite news |last1=Witton |first1=Bridie |title=Oranga Tamariki oversight bill passes third reading |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/129655317/oranga-tamariki-oversight-bill-passes-third-reading |access-date=25 August 2022 |work=Stuff |date=24 August 2022}}{{cite web |last1=Sepuloni |first1=Carmel |title=Government strengthens oversight for children in state care |url=https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/government-strengthens-oversight-children-state-care |website=Beehive.govt.nz |publisher=New Zealand Government |access-date=28 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220903215535/https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/government-strengthens-oversight-children-state-care |archive-date=3 September 2022 |date=24 August 2022 |url-status=live}}
In mid April 2023, Deputy Public Service Commissioner Heather Baggott confirmed the appointment of Arran Jones to the positions of Independent Monitor of the Oranga Tamariki System and Chief Executive of the Independent Children's Monitor, commencing 1 May 2023. The Independent Children's Monitor's role was also expanded to include oversight of the entire Oranga Tamariki system. The organisation was also reconstituted as a departmental agency within the Education Review Office.
In early August 2024, the Independent Children's Monitor released a follow-up report to Dame Karen Poutasi's report into the death of five year old Malachi Subecz, who died after prolonged abuse by his guardian Michaela Barriball. The assessment found that the child protection system had not improved since Subecz's death. Several contributing factors included limited staffing capability, limited resources and half of NGO reports not being followed upon. The Monitor's report found that several of the recommendations of Poutasi's report had not been implemented and that several agencies including Oranga Tamariki were not prioritising child safety.{{cite news |last1=Cheng |first1=Derek |title=Malachi Subecz follow-up report: Children aren’t any safer today than when the 5-year-old was brutally murdered |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/malachi-subecz-follow-up-report-children-arent-any-safer-today-than-when-the-5-year-old-was-brutally-murdered/RJRQGZM42BAB5PGCQ4V2JS7CAA/ |access-date=3 August 2024 |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=1 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240802083333/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/malachi-subecz-follow-up-report-children-arent-any-safer-today-than-when-the-5-year-old-was-brutally-murdered/RJRQGZM42BAB5PGCQ4V2JS7CAA/ |archive-date=2 August 2024}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{NZ Public Service Departments}}
Category:Ombudsmen in New Zealand
Category:New Zealand public service departmental agencies