Wellington — A second independent review into the government response to the death of Malachi Subecz has concluded that tamariki remain at risk, four years after his death and three years after Dame Karen Poutasi’s landmark recommendations. The report, Towards a stronger safety net to prevent abuse of children, was published by Aroturuki Tamariki | Independent Children’s Monitor and warns that policy commitments have not yet translated into reliable protection on the ground.
Aroturuki Tamariki chief executive Arran Jones said the review shows some early steps have been taken — including a new inter‑agency hub for children whose sole parents are in prison and the start of mandatory training for core children’s workers — but that real change is only beginning. “Until change happens on the ground and across all communities, tamariki will continue to be no safer,” Mr Jones said.
Key findings
- Of 14 recommendations made by Dame Karen, only two are complete: the Monitor’s own first review of implementation and one recommendation that required no action.
- Between December 2021 and June 2025, 24 tamariki were killed by someone who was meant to be caring for them; many were babies and most were under five.
- Half of those children had previously been the subject of reports to Oranga Tamariki; most perpetrators were known to Police.
- Reports of concern to Oranga Tamariki have increased, but the number of cases local offices take action on has remained roughly constant at about 40,000 per year over the last nine years.
- In 2024/25 the Oranga Tamariki national contact centre referred nearly 81,000 reports of concern to local offices; more than 32,000 of those referrals resulted in no further local action.
- The review documents wide regional variation in how local offices respond to referrals; some offices take no further action on more than half of the reports referred to them by the national contact centre.
Systemic gaps and frontline concerns
The Monitor warns that even if all of Dame Karen’s recommendations are implemented, Oranga Tamariki may still be unable to respond appropriately without urgent improvements to the child‑protection system. The review repeatedly highlights frontline accounts of community social workers, police, teachers and health staff who say they must make multiple reports before action is taken. Frontline Oranga Tamariki staff report being forced to prioritise cases based on resourcing rather than child safety.
“Put simply, Oranga Tamariki social workers need to be able to get in the car and go and see a child with their own eyes,” Mr Jones said.
The review also notes that other government agencies are making reports of concern and have begun training staff where Oranga Tamariki has not. It highlights gaps in clinical training for health professionals in interpreting childhood injuries and points to the Privacy Commissioner’s guidance that sharing information to keep children safe is acceptable.
Public reaction and broader debate
The Monitor’s findings have reignited public debate about child safety and the wider social and policy environment. Some commentators and community leaders have argued that broader social changes over recent years have contributed to a deterioration in child safety, and one critic told CVNZ News that “New Zealand is no longer safe for kids” and linked the trend to shifts in social policy during the previous government’s term. That view is an opinion held by some and is not presented in the review as a causal finding.
Aroturuki Tamariki and other child‑safety experts emphasise that the review focuses on systemic failures in child protection — gaps in resourcing, inconsistent local responses, training shortfalls and the need for a well‑resourced community sector to provide early intervention and whānau support.
What the review recommends next
The Monitor calls for:
- Urgent improvements to Oranga Tamariki’s capacity to respond to reports of concern.
- A well‑resourced community sector able to provide early intervention and support for whānau.
- Stronger cross‑agency training so frontline staff across health, education, police and community services can better identify and act on signs of abuse.
- Consistent national standards to reduce regional variation in response and ensure triaged reports receive follow‑up.
Arran Jones acknowledged the late Dame Karen Poutasi’s work and said her determination to see change remains a guiding force for the Monitor’s work.
The full review is available from Aroturuki Tamariki’s website.
Scriptural reflection and practical application
Scriptural anchor
“Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.” — Mark 9:37
“Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed.” — Isaiah 1:17
Reflection
The Monitor’s findings are a sober call to conscience. Scripture repeatedly urges communities to protect the vulnerable and to act for justice. When systems fail children, faith communities are called to respond with both compassion and advocacy.
Practical steps for churches and faith groups
- Pray and remember. Hold services or prayer gatherings focused on tamariki, frontline workers and families affected by abuse.
- Educate and equip. Host training on recognising and reporting child abuse; make clear how to make a report of concern and when to call Police.
- Partner locally. Work with iwi providers, community social services and child‑safety charities to support early‑intervention programmes.
- Provide practical support. Offer transport, meals, childcare and mentoring to struggling whānau to reduce stressors that can escalate into harm.
- Advocate for change. Encourage congregations to contact MPs, support local pilots, and back policies that resource social workers and community services.