More children in Oranga Tamariki care

Methamphetamine use in the community is a link to Southland youngsters being placed into the care or custody of Oranga Tamariki (Ministry for Children).

Oranga Tamariki figures, obtained by The Southland Times under the Official Information Act, reveal the number of Southland children and young people taken in by the agency increased by 53 per cent over five years, from 113 in 2016 to 173 in 2020.

Christine McKenna, Oranga Tamariki’s lower south regional manager for children and families services, said there would be several reasons for the increase.

These included more people in the community reporting their concerns to Oranga Tamariki, while the economic and social environment in Southland had changed, with more people moving to the district.

And drug use among families was also linked to the increase.

‘‘The increased use of drugs, and methamphetamine in particular, is an issue countrywide and is a factor in nearly half of the families we work with,’’ McKenna said.

Stuff approached four social agencies in Invercargill for comment but none would, either declining to comment or saying they were unable to before deadline.

Invercargill police prevention area manager Senior Sergeant Andrew Karsten said methamphetamine affected not only the people using it, but also their families and friends. ‘‘This includes children in households where meth is present, which we do see in Invercargill and Southland.’’

The drug was highly addictive and could have a devastating impact on communities, especially youth and vulnerable people, he said. It caused people to exhibit violent behaviour and commit crime to generate money to fund their drug use.

‘‘This can therefore have a detrimental effect on children in these households and it is important they are supported.’’

Reducing the impact of meth required a joined up approach from the community and government agencies with a focus on enforcement, prevention, treatment, and harm reduction, he said.

The people police interacted with were often involved with other government agencies and community groups and a ‘‘wrap-around approach’’ was required to support them and keep them safe.

Police were actively targeting criminal groups, such as gangs, that were involved in the production, importation and distribution of meth, Karsten said.

When Oranga Tamariki broke its figures down into Southland areas, it showed 15 youngsters for the Gore subsite were taken into its care or custody in 2016, but the number jumped to 29 in 2018 before plateauing at 28 in both 2019 and 2020. The Gore subsite was merged with Balclutha in August 2020.

In the Invercargill subsite, the number of youngsters taken into the agency’s care and custody was 98 in 2016 and kept rising to 152 in 2019, before dipping to 145 in 2020, the year of Covid.

McKenna said the decision to recommend putting a child into the care of Oranga Tamariki was one of the most difficult decisions staff made. All final decisions were made by a Family Court judge, who was presented with a full picture from Oranga Tamariki, wha¯ nau and the lawyer for each child.

‘‘If we’re concerned for the safety of a child or young person, we must satisfy the Family Court that the harm, or risk of harm, requires this action and that no other alternatives will ensure the child or young person’s safety.’’

The organisation worked hard to keep children safely in their homes wherever it could, she said. Where this was not possible, it would look for wider family or wha¯nau who could provide a safe and loving home for as long as needed.

‘‘Only when these cannot be found, do we look to other people to help care for children.’’

Oranga Tamariki worked closely with iwi and community partners to support families to prevent the need for care orders wherever possible, she said.

Steve Groom, Oranga Tamariki’s general manager of public, ministerial and executive services, said there were a strong set of checks and balances before the decision was made to recommend a child go into its care.

‘‘In every case, there must be valid and verified concerns for the safety of the child.’’

‘‘The increased use of drugs, and methamphetamine in particular, is an issue countrywide and is a factor in nearly half the families we work with.’’ Christine McKenna Oranga Tamariki’s lower south regional manager for children and families services