20578 (2026). Hon Willow-Jean Prime to the Minister for Children

20578 (2026). Hon Willow-Jean Prime to the Minister for Children: Further to 5384 (2026), what are the improvements, if any, that Ministers' agreed to from the February 2025 advice on the Gateway Assessment redesign and, if any, at what stage of implementation are the improvements?

Hon Karen Chhour: In response to advice provided in February 2025 on the Gateway Assessment redesign, Ministers agreed that a series of national improvements would be progressed within baseline funding to strengthen the consistency, timeliness, and coordination of the Gateway Assessment process. I am advised by Oranga Tamariki that the following improvements are in progress: • Clearer Gateway processes and pathways to support earlier and more efficient access to services and supports. • Improved governance and accountability arrangements, including strengthened cross-agency collaboration. • Earlier referrals and improved access to primary and community health care services. • Improvements to the Education Profile and engagement with schools. • Improvements to the Gateway IT tool and performance measures. • Streamlining of needs codes data used by health practitioners.