Oranga Tamariki staff stood down after video of children in headlock

Wednesday, 30 June 2021

A whistleblower has told Newsroom he has videos of staff restraints on children he says are illegal and constitute assault.

Oranga Tamariki staff have been stood down after a video emerged of children being tackled and held in a headlock at secure care facilities.

Oranga Tamariki is failing New Zealand’s most at risk young people, a report from the Education Review Office has found (file photo).

Yesterday, Newsroom published a documentary showing young people tackled, restrained and held in a headlock by staff at a facility.

Newsroom is reporting the young people are in the care of Oranga Tamariki's care and protection units, which are secure facilities for those with particular protection needs who cannot live with family.

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Oranga Tamariki acting CEO Sir Wira Gardiner.

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Children's Minister Kelvin Davis asked officials to get to the bottom of the 'unacceptable' behaviour after the video emerged.

Davis said after watching the video he asked Oranga Tamariki to review the units to ensure the reported behaviour was not a system-wide problem.

Oranga Tamariki acting chief executive Sir Wira Gardiner told a select committee this morning police have been called in.

Gardiner said social workers have also spoken to the child at the centre of the video to check they were okay.

He said the incident was completely unacceptable, and a review of all five of its facilities is underway.