Huaki “To bring to Light”
Edition 30
Friday, March 27, 2026
Ngāpuhi moves to take greater control of care for its tamariki with new backing
Ngāpuhi is progressing work toward an iwi led approach to supporting tamariki and whānau through the Enabling Communities kaupapa, with Oranga Tamariki supporting this work.
T
his progress reflects a shift toward greater backing for Ngāpuhi to design and deliver its own approaches, building momentum toward iwi led care for tamariki and whānau. At the centre of this kaupapa is an iwi led prototype focused on mokopuna safety, designed to test how Ngāpuhi can better support its own tamariki and whānau, and to lay the foundations for the future devolution of specific Oranga Tamariki functions to Ngāpuhi. The prototype will put this into action by strengthening whakapapa based care that keeps tamariki connected to their people, their whenua and their identity, supporting more tamariki to remain within their whānau
where it is safe to do so, and building stronger support around Ngāpuhi caregivers. It will also focus on getting alongside whānau earlier, providing practical support before challenges reach crisis point and reducing the likelihood of tamariki entering care or youth justice pathways. Alongside this, Ngāpuhi will look to better coordinate support through a Ngāpuhi led approach, including the development of a Ngāpuhi hub to bring services together and youth focused initiatives aimed at reducing pathways into serious offending. The prototype will also explore ways to
maintain connection and continuity of support for whānau living outside the rohe. For many whānau across Te Tai Tokerau, the impacts of care and protection and youth justice systems are not new. They have been felt across generations. Today, more than 700 Ngāpuhi tamariki are in the care and protection system, with many more involved in youth justice. These numbers reflect a reality many whānau already know too well. This kaupapa reflects a long standing drive by Ngāpuhi to create solutions that come from within, grounded in whakapapa, tikanga and the lived experiences of its people.
While the need in Te Tai Tokerau has long been clear, this has not always been matched by the level of support required to enable iwi led approaches at scale. This work creates space for Ngāpuhi to design, test and grow its own approaches over time, with Oranga Tamariki supporting this process, while building toward greater iwi leadership and responsibility. The next phase will focus on putting these approaches into practice and ensuring they deliver meaningful outcomes for Ngāpuhi whānau.