4878 (2024). Hon Willow-Jean Prime to the Minister for Children

4878 (2024). Hon Willow-Jean Prime to the Minister for Children: What progress, if any, has Oranga Tamariki made to assess the potential for mandatory reporting of suspected child abuse, as recommended in the 2022 report by Karen Poutasi entitled 'Joint Review into the Children's Sector: Identification and response to suspected abuse'?

Hon Karen Chhour: I am advised that significant work has been done to prepare advice on Dame Karen Poutasi’s recommendations relating to mandatory reporting. As noted in my response to WPQ 4877 (2024), in November 2022 Cabinet noted some recommendations should be the subject of further consideration because of the significant consequences that could arise from implementation. This included the recommendations around mandatory reporting. In order to do this an interagency working group was established to consider the recommendations relating to mandatory reporting, led by Oranga Tamariki. As part of this process, children’s agencies undertook extensive targeted engagement between July and September 2023.