Child protection
Auditor-General finds Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children was 'poorly prepared' for its 2024/25 contracting round, cutting $60 million from children's services contracts without adequate evidence or competitive process
Confidence: Confirmed · 3 sourcesNew Zealand · Sep 22, 2026
Subject of this story
Oranga Tamariki – Ministry for Children
Also named
Oversight
Office of the Auditor-General (New Zealand)
What happened
New Zealand's Auditor-General released a report on 15 May 2025 finding Oranga Tamariki (the Ministry for Children) lacked a strategic, evidence-based approach to procurement, left contracting decisions until late in the process, poorly documented its decisions, and awarded most 2024/25 contracts — following a roughly $60 million spending cut — without an open, transparent, competitive process. The report noted the agency had known about these contracting weaknesses for years without making material improvements, and that the effects of its funding cuts on children and families remain unknown.
Sources (3)
SourceOranga Tamariki was poorly prepared to carry out the 2024/25 contracting round and did not have a strategic approach to procurement and contract management.
SourceOranga Tamariki contracting of services for children needs urgent improvement, says Auditor-General.
NewsroomReports of concern rose 60 percent after government cut child safety contracts.
Response
Oranga Tamariki – Ministry for Children
Statement given
Contacted and responded — exact wording not on record.
What happened next (0)
No outcome recorded yet.