Oranga Tamariki workers missing child safety meetings, sector warns of risk to life

Oranga Tamariki social workers are repeatedly absent from multi-agency safety meetings designed to protect vulnerable tamariki, Ruth Money from the family violence sector told RNZ on 17 June. When the agency fails to attend, critical information locked within Oranga Tamariki's cases cannot be shared with police, health workers, and schools also present. Money called the pattern "infuriating" and a direct threat to children's lives — a characterization grounded in findings from multiple child death reviews showing poor inter-agency communication as a contributing factor.