6 Jul 2023

Oranga Tamariki lacks touch, former youth resident says

From Morning Report, 8:10 am on 6 July 2023

A former resident of Oranga Tamariki youth justice facilities says the agency is out of touch with its own services.

The last week has seen revelations of staff mistreating rangatahi, a two-night roof stand-off, and most recently, a video of a fight between residents filmed by staff.

Despite having no criminal convictions, Arapuni Mana spent years living in youth justice facilities because Oranga Tamariki had nowhere else for him to go.

Now he sits on an advisory board for Oranga Tamariki, and says progress is painfully slow. He spoke to Corin Dann.