Cabinet approves $68m first phase of Oranga Tamariki child safety system overhaul, but full project not yet funded

Cabinet has approved a $68m first phase to replace Oranga Tamariki's 25-year-old case management system, with a design contract expected next month. Later phases remain unfunded, and a 2024 Cabinet paper said the agency cannot absorb further costs without affecting services to children. Budget 2026 allocated $180m to Oranga Tamariki but none of it for technology.