Oranga Tamariki – Ministry for Children
Oranga Tamariki is a Ministry dedicated to supporting any child in New Zealand whose wellbeing is at significant risk of harm now, or in the future. They also work with young people who may have offended or are likely to offend.
General Enquires
Email to : enquiry@ot.govt.nz
Making a report of concern
If you, a child or young person is in immediate danger call : Police on 111
If you're worried about a child and want to make a referral or report of concern, call us on freephone:
0508 326 459 or email contact@ot.govt.nz
Get in touch if you think a child or young person may be:
unsafe or in danger of harm
suffering from ill-treatment, abuse or neglect
or you’re not sure if you should be concerned, and want advice, or just to talk things through.
A social worker will work out how urgent this is, and the best thing to do next.
What we'll need to know when you get in touch
what you're worried about
details of any incidents, including dates
details about the child or young person and their family, such as names and addresses.
After hours
From 5pm to 8am Monday to Friday, weekends and public holidays, social workers will only assess emergency situations. But we encourage you to call if you're unsure.
Worried about the welfare of a Child?
If you, a child or young person is in immediate danger call : Police on 111
We work with and fund a number of programmes and services that provide support to families. Some of our programmes and services are about early intervention – stopping the cycle of harm before it happens.
Working with Families
Only by working together with valued partners, practitioners, non government organisations and professionals from other areas – including doctors, teachers and Police – will we be able to offer our most at-risk children the protection and care they need.
All children belong in families who will love and care for them. We work together with families and whānau to resolve any issues, and offer the help and support they might need to provide a safe, stable and loving home.
It's best that children stay at home safely, and we will work with parents, whānau, hapū and iwi to prevent children and young people from coming into our care.
When this is not possible, we look to caregivers who are family, whānau or non-kin to provide a safe, stable and loving home for as long as needed. Our preference is for the wider whānau, hapū, iwi or a family group to become the caregivers to the child if they are able to meet their needs.
It’s also important that we have a team of non-kin caregivers or foster carers who can provide different types of care and meet a range of needs for tamariki.
Youth justice is for children and young people who have, or are alleged to have committed an offence
Adoption provides a child with a family when their birthparents are not able to raise them. The most important consideration when it comes to adoption is what’s best for the child.
Ph: 0508 326 459