Te Kāika Facility Under Investigation After Closure

Key Takeaways

• A youth remand home in Abbotsford, New Zealand, has been shut down for nine months due to allegations of abuse by caregivers.
• Oranga Tamariki is investigating the allegations, but has not provided any specifics on the nature or number of the mistreatment claims.
• The home, run by Te Kāika, had a contract worth $1,027,037 to operate the four-bed facility, but has been out of use since March.
• The allegations of abuse are the latest in a series of issues faced by Te Kāika, including an investigation into interest-free loans taken by the board chairwoman and her son, the chief executive.
• The home has a history of staffing issues and has been the subject of previous complaints and criticisms, including a 2022 report by the children’s commissioner that highlighted "harmful" issues.

Introduction to the Crisis
A youth remand home in Abbotsford, New Zealand, has been shut down for nine months due to allegations of abuse by caregivers. The home, run by Te Kāika, had a contract worth $1,027,037 to operate the four-bed facility, but has been out of use since March. Oranga Tamariki, the agency responsible for investigating the allegations, has not provided any specifics on the nature or number of the mistreatment claims. The agency’s deputy chief executive, Dean Winter, confirmed that there had been no young people at the residence since March, but would not provide any further information on the investigation.

Investigation and Response
The investigation into the allegations of abuse is ongoing, but the lack of transparency from Oranga Tamariki has raised concerns. A spokeswoman for the mana mokopuna children’s commissioner confirmed that the Will St property had been out of use due to "alleged abuse by caregivers", but noted that the commissioner’s office was not involved in the investigation. Te Kāika, the organization that runs the home, has also refused to comment on the allegations, stating that they will not be making any further comment to the media. The revelation of the allegations has sparked concerns about the safety and well-being of the young people who were residing at the home, and has raised questions about the accountability of Te Kāika and Oranga Tamariki.

History of Issues
The Will St remand home has a history of staffing issues and has been the subject of previous complaints and criticisms. In 2017, the home was reopened, but caused ructions with neighbors who felt that they were not informed about Oranga Tamariki’s plans. A public meeting and charm offensive by the then chief executive, Grainne Moss, were held to address the concerns. However, the home hit headlines again in 2022, following a children’s commissioner report that highlighted "harmful" issues that needed urgent addressing. The report found that young people had no access to independent advocacy, house parents received no induction, training, professional development or supervision, and there were shortcomings regarding working with rangatahi Māori. The report made 17 recommendations, but it is unclear what actions have been taken to address these issues.

Te Kāika’s Troubles
The allegations of abuse are the latest in a series of issues faced by Te Kāika. The organization has been under scrutiny after it was revealed that the board chairwoman, Donna Matahaere-Atariki, and her son, chief executive Matt Matahaere, were being investigated by the Department of Internal Affairs over interest-free loans they allegedly took from Te Kāika’s parent charity, tākou Health Ltd. The investigation has raised concerns about the governance and management of Te Kāika, and has sparked calls for greater transparency and accountability. Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora confirmed that representatives met with the Te Kāika board to discuss the issues, but the outcome of the meeting is unclear.

Conclusion and Next Steps
The shutdown of the Will St remand home and the allegations of abuse by caregivers are a serious concern that requires immediate attention. The lack of transparency from Oranga Tamariki and Te Kāika has raised questions about the accountability of these organizations and the safety and well-being of the young people in their care. The history of issues at the home and the recent allegations of abuse highlight the need for urgent action to address the systemic problems that have led to these issues. The government and relevant agencies must take immediate action to ensure that the young people in care are safe and that those responsible for the abuse are held accountable. This includes providing greater transparency and accountability, addressing the systemic issues that have led to these problems, and ensuring that the necessary support and resources are provided to the young people in care.