The aim of this Bill is to ensure that the wellbeing of children and young people is the paramount consideration of Oranga Tamariki.

Section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 places duties on the Chief Executive of Oranga Tamariki that are at odds with the agency’s primary purpose to support the wellbeing, and act in the best interests, of a child or young person.

While well intentioned, section 7AA creates a conflict between the requirement to make decisions in the best interests of the child and duties placed on the Chief Executive to organise the department around a relationship between the state and signatories to the Treaty of Waitangi.

These duties are not child-centric and inform policies and practices, such as so-called “reverse uplifts”, which cause harm to children and young people