Minister overrides her ministry over children’s helpline cuts

Thursday, 30 January 2025

Children’s Minister Karen Chhour has stepped in after funding cuts put a Barnardos helpline for children at risk, and asked Oranga Tamariki to pause its review of contracts for providers.

It follows a story in The Post which outlined Barnardos’ “0800 What’s Up” helpline was at risk of closing after 23 years due to Oranga Tamariki funding reductions, with one in 10 of the thousands of calls it receives from children regarding suicide.

“When I found out about the potential impact to this service, I asked Oranga Tamariki for an explanation,” Chhour said. “Based on the information I have received, Oranga Tamariki’s handling of this process has not met my expectations.

“I met with Oranga Tamariki last night, and instructed them to work with Barnardos to ensure the service can continue to be delivered to families and children.”

The Post asked for details about the Barnardos decision, whether the funding has been reinstated or if it was expected to come from a different pool of funding from within Barnardos.

Chhour said her understanding was that they were still under negotiation.

“My concern was around the What’s Up helpline and making sure that that continues, because it is a vital service for young people.

“Young people need to be able to reach up when they are struggling or when they need someone to talk to, and I cannot have that that service stopping. So I have made it clear to work with Barnardos to make sure that that continues.

“What I've also made clear is the process around communications has not been up to my expectations. We need some certainty in the sector.”

Chhour asked Oranga Tamariki “to pause its current review and extend existing contracts for providers who do not have a current contract, or have a contract that will end shortly, until 31 December 2025”.

The auditor-general launched an inquiry into Oranga Tamariki/Ministry of Children’s funding decisions last year. Oranga Tamariki has come under the microscope after The Post first revealed in June the start of a saga of funding issues across the country, as the ministry overhauled its funding structure which saw many contracts reduced and payments withheld.

Te Pai Ora Social Service Provider CEO Belinda Himiona welcomed the pause in contract review.

“The funding review was rushed and chaotic. There was little opportunity for providers to work with Oranga Tamariki to ensure children and whānau were not harmed by funding reductions and uncertainty. In reality, children and whānau were left without vital services they rely on.

“These funding decisions have already had real-life consequences”

Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime said it was a relief “to see some contracts have been extended out to the end of the year”.

“While this provides immediate relief, it does not fix the uncertainty that many children and whānau face if providers’ funding is not continued.”

Public Service Association national secretary Duane Leo said “this backflip shows how rushed and reckless [Chhour’s] original decision was to order Oranga Tamariki to cut contracts for dozens of community service providers across Aotearoa”.

Contracts with the Children’s Ministry range from counselling, youth programmes, support for vulnerable families, sexual violence prevention, aspects of foster care funding and support for young people leaving care.

In September, despite reassurances from Oranga Tamariki that services for vulnerable clients would continue, many had not been moved from providers with discontinued contracts.

Chhour said she had “huge respect for Barnardos and the vital work they do in our communities, and am extremely disappointed that Oranga Tamariki’s handling of this process has put them in this position”.

The top issues children called to talk to counsellors about were family relationships, suicide, peer relationship, emotional distress and self-harming behaviour.

Barnardos says it is the only helpline for children as young as five, and received almost 13,000 calls and online chats last year.