8. Question No. 8—ChildrenHon GINNY ANDERSEN (Labour) to the Minister for ChildrenQuestion No. 8—Children8. Hon GINNY ANDERSEN (Labour) to the Minister for Children: What evidence does she have to substantiate her statement For too many years Oranga Tamariki has been the cash cow for community service providers who say they will provide services and then don't"?Hon KAREN CHHOUR (Minister for Children): I refer the member to the $22 million Oranga Tamariki has already recovered from the last financial year where services weren't delivered with more expected to come. In previous years some providers have accumulated significant surpluses and this is unacceptable. Every cent of taxpayer funding that providers receive needs to reach the children and young people for its intended purpose not sit idle in their bank accounts. I also refer the member to an email I received this morning from a lawyer who works in this space who said "I have been appalled over the past few years at how much taxpayer money has been wasted on agencies that make big claims yet deliver nothing but a glorified babysitting service." This is a Government that is making sure that that money will be used where it is needed with organisations that are struggling for funding when it's sitting in bank accounts unused.Hon Ginny Andersen: When she stated in her press release "The funding they provide is for the care and protection of children in state care. Nothing more nothing less." when referring to Oranga Tamariki does this mean that family services that prevent children going into State care will no longer be funded?Hon KAREN CHHOUR: I instructed Oranga Tamariki to get back to their core purpose and do their core purpose well which is to the best interests of children in care and that are at the attention of Oranga Tamariki.Hon Ginny Andersen: Does she consider that Oranga Tamariki has a role in assisting families whānau hapū iwi and family groups at the earliest opportunity to meet the needs of their children and young persons; if not who holds this responsibility?Hon KAREN CHHOUR: Absolutely but it's not just up to Oranga Tamariki to fix this problem—it's up to all of Government agencies and also society itself. Step up when you see something is wrong with our young people; speak up when you see something is happening with our young people. Don't just rely on Government to fix it.Hon Ginny Andersen: Is she aware that the previous statement is one of the statutory purposes of Oranga Tamariki in the Act and if so does she intend to repeal the purpose of the Oranga Tamariki Act along with section 7AA?SPEAKER: The Minister may like to comment but it's probably answered pretty much in the previous answer.Hon KAREN CHHOUR: Oranga Tamariki's job is to protect the children in their care and to make sure they're protecting any children that come to their attention with reports of concern.Hon Ginny Andersen: Point of order Mr Speaker. I think we're dancing around here. The point the Minister made was that Oranga Tamariki would only fund children in State care. They would not be funding children and their families in order to provide a prevention service—she stated that. So my question to her was how can the purpose of the Act be fulfilled if she's not taking that preventative action?SPEAKER: Yeah my recollection is that you asked her what was the purpose of the Act and you outlined some views there. The Minister's answer to you started with "Absolutely" and I think to then have another question that questions the answer needs to be a little clearer than perhaps it was put. So without loss of one of the party's supplementaries try and put it a different way.Hon Ginny Andersen: How can Oranga Tamariki fulfil their statutory requirements to act at the earliest opportunity to meet the needs of children and young people if they are not funded to undertake preventative services that would occur before a child or young person enters into State care? Hon KAREN CHHOUR: There are many ways a child can come to the attention of Oranga Tamariki not just being placed into State care. And when a child is brought to the attention of Oranga Tamariki it is their responsibility to intervene as early as possible.Hon Ginny Andersen: Does she agree with Zoe Hawke the chief executive of E Tipu E Rea Whānau who says of the cuts to their services "The core of our mahi the core of our work is prevention preventing uplift … We have prevented so many uplifts unfortunately we may not be able to do that any longer."; if not why not?Hon KAREN CHHOUR: I can't comment on individual contracts without that information in front of me—but if you'd like more information please put that in writing.Hon Ginny Andersen: Can she reassure New Zealanders that there will not be an increase in Oranga Tamariki uplifts as a result of her cuts?Hon KAREN CHHOUR: I cannot make guarantees about anything. What I can guarantee is that Oranga Tamariki will get back to their core purpose which is the care and protection of young people in their care and children that come to their attention. If a child is unsafe and needs care and protection that's what will happen."