5394 (2026). Hon Willow-Jean Prime to the Minister for Children

5394 (2026). Hon Willow-Jean Prime to the Minister for Children: What investment in Oranga Tamariki secure residences, if any, has been made in programme roles, and activities and therapeutic options, over the period from July 2024 to December 2025?

Hon Karen Chhour: I am advised by Oranga Tamariki that as part of the organisational restructure which came into effect on 1 October 2024, a National Programme Lead was added to the Youth Justice Services and Residential Care (YJSRC) group and operates alongside seven Programme Coordinators who are based at secure residences. I am further advised that, whilst the YJSRC group procure a range of activities and therapeutic options for young people, that to provide the investments broken down in the requested format would require substantial collation and divert staff from their core duties. In accordance with Speakers’ Ruling 199-3, I consider that the time, and hence expense, of answering this question in the timeframe allowed for written parliamentary questions, is not in the public interest. I can however advise that Oranga Tamariki continues to develop options to work with national providers and agencies, such as Sport NZ, to create opportunities to engage young people in residences.