9. Children—Stand Children's Services Funding and ClosuresHon ALFRED NGARO (National) to the Minister for ChildrenChildren—Stand Children's Services Funding and Closures9. Hon ALFRED NGARO (National) to the Minister for Children: Does she stand by her statement in relation to childcare services that We need to know who the kids are; what places are best going to meet their needs; and then match them"?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI (Minister for Social Development) on behalf of the Minister for Children: Yes. Those comments were made in relation to care placements. Obviously the better we can match carers and children the better the outcomes. What we know is that strong stable and loving relationships are key for children. Going forward we also need to design and purchase services that work best for children and will best meet their needs.Hon Alfred Ngaro: Does she agree with the Central Otago Mayor Tim Cadogan and Clutha Mayor Bryan Cadogan about Stand Children's Services in Roxburgh meeting the children's needs and I quote that they did "utterly critical work … no other agencies provided the intensive residential wrap-around service[s] the Roxburgh facility provided for children who had experienced … trauma."?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: The mayor's comments that are made in relation to Stand are made almost on the premise that funding has been cut. I need to assure this House that Stand is still receiving $20 million each year to provide intensive wraparound services to children and their families—the same amount of funding that was received under the previous Government. Stand though has decided to close two of their villages—Hon Gerry Brownlee: You're shutting them down.Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: Stand has decided to close two of their villages. These villages have nine intakes per year with a maximum of 21 children per intake. The Minister has directed the chief executive of Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children to track the 21 children at any given time that would normally be referred to the village. The chief executive of Oranga Tamariki will ensure that any additional support that is required is made available to these children.Hon Jacqui Dean: If her Government's aim is about looking after vulnerable children what service provider will replace the only facility in the whole of the lower South Island providing intensive residential treatment for traumatised children and their families to best meet their needs?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: Oranga Tamariki has given assurances that the children will still receive the services they need through the ministry and through a range of other providers including Stand Anglican Family Care Mirror Services and Presbyterian Support Otago. That network of services is made up of competent professional providers who are already moving towards more integrated ways of working across the child well-being health and education sectors in the region.Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern: Can the Minister confirm that at any given time in Roxburgh there are roughly 21 children utilising this service and that therefore by necessity there are a range of other services available through the country to meet the kinds of needs Stand meets in just seven current facilities?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: I can absolutely assure the House on behalf of the Minister that that is the case. There are other services providing the types of wraparound and therapeutical support that those two villages were providing as well as there are still seven existing villages I understand that continue to operate and provide that therapeutical support.Hon Alfred Ngaro: How can she tell Stand Children's Services the 21 children per month that utilise the beds in those villages the 220 children per year and the 85 that are on a residential waiting list that the $3 million funding required could not be secured at this time—and I quote—"because of the restrictions on the Government budget" when her Government found a billion dollars for diplomats invested $2.8 million—SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! The member's question finished some time ago.Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: I can assure the children and the families of those children that they will continue to get the support that they need. I will raise with the member who just asked that question that the last time any additional funding was given to these particular services was back in 2009. If the previous Government were that concerned then perhaps they should've made the investment earlier.Darroch Ball: What is the Minister doing to ensure that children get the best services that they need?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: Excuse me Mr Speaker. I forgot that we had one other question coming perhaps. On behalf of the Minister for Children today Oranga Tamariki are holding the first of 14 regional hui with their 525 providers to talk about how they will work together in the future to ensure that all services meet the best needs of the child. Collectively they receive around $268 million from Oranga Tamariki per year. The ministry is trying to give them greater certainty around their funding and is moving to longer-term contracts—[Interruption]SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! The member will resume her seat. David Bennett will stand withdraw and apologise.Hon David Bennett: I withdraw and apologise.Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: The ministry is trying to give them greater certainty around their funding and is moving to longer-term contracts but they are also being challenged to think about the design of future services. These need to focus on the best outcomes for our children and not be locked into a particular organisation."