Jane Searle: Child Matters CEO talks growing number of reports of concern to Oranga Tamariki

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge · Apr 29, 2025 · 2m · transcript

A children's support charity says a mix of heightened awareness and more abuse could be the reason for more reports to Oranga Tamariki.

The Ministry for Children estimates its seen a 45 percent increase in reports of concern in the year to April.

It comes as Newstalk ZB reveals more than a-thousand children are overdue to be assigned a social worker.

Child Matters Chief Executive Jane Searle told Ryan Bridge it's aware of a large volume of under-reporting - especially in serious cases.

She says increased reporting is certainly not indicative of just more awareness.

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