The latest Independent Children’s Monitor report shows the Government’s funding cuts and ‘punishment over prevention’ approach are causing harm to vulnerable children and whānau.

“The stories in this report are confronting. Frontline workers, whānau recovering from harm, and vulnerable tamariki – are all put at risk by this Government’s funding cuts,” Labour spokesperson for Children Willow-Jean Prime said.

“It’s disgraceful that frontline social services are scrambling for funding as Christopher Luxon spends tens of millions of dollars on failed boot camps. That’s money spent on punishing children, instead of preventing them from ending up there in the first place. It shows how out of touch they are. 

“The report’s finding that so many tamariki Māori are falling through the cracks should be a wake-up call. It’s a direct result of choices like scrapping the 7AA legislation, which held the Government accountable for improving outcomes for Māori children.

“The Government is slashing support at the very time people need it most. 

“Tens of thousands more children are now living in hardship, one in three households are struggling to put food on the table. The Government’s plan to cut 9,000 public sector jobs could take social workers off the frontline.

“Our children deserve better. They deserve a government that will invest in their future,” Willow-Jean Prime said.