Oversight of Oranga Tamariki System Legislation Amendment Bill
This bill changes how two organisations that watch over Oranga Tamariki (the government agency that looks after children in state care) are set up. The group that checks on children in state care, called the Independent Children's Monitor, would become a fully separate and independent body rather than sitting inside another government department. Separately, the Children's Commissioner role would go back to being one single person instead of a board of five people. These changes take effect on 1 July 2025.
What this affects
Tap a topic to see how this bill touches it, and the parts of the text that show it.
The organisations that check whether children in state care are being looked after properly are being restructured to be more independent.
The bill would reestablish it as an independent Crown entity. This change is intended to strengthen the Monitor's status as an independent entity.
This bill would disestablish the Commission's current board model and revert it to an independent Crown entity with a single Children's Commissioner.
The Monitor is a Crown entity for the purposes of the Crown Entities Act 2004.
The Minister must arrange for an independent review of the operation and effectiveness of this Act as amended by the amendment Act.
Progress through Parliament
Have your say
This bill is open for public submissions to the Social Services and Community Committee. Anyone can tell the committee what they think, and you don’t need to be an expert. Submissions close 7 December 2024.
Bill text sourced from legislation.govt.nz (Parliamentary Counsel Office). Arapono’s summary and breakdown are drafted with AI grounded in that official text and reviewed by an Arapono editor for accuracy and neutrality before publishing. Arapono is non-partisan and takes no position on this bill.