Oranga Tamariki review moves Family Start to Social Investments Agency, providers seek clarity
Te Runanganui O Ngāti Porou is one of two Family Start providers based in Gisborne and is seeking clarity on changes for the programme. Photo / Zoe Mills
Family Start providers are facing uncertainty about the future of their services before an agency reshuffle takes place.
The providers are contracted under Oranga Tamariki to visit whānau and offer advice on child development, mental health and addiction support.
However, from July 1, 2027, the majority of Family Start contracts will come under the Social Investments Agency (SIA).
This follows phase one of a Cabinet review of an estimated $529 million spent on early intervention and prevention schemes.
Min Vette, general manager of Te Runanganui o Ngāti Porou, a subsidiary of Ngāti Porou and a Family Start provider, said the changeover had caused “some insecurity” as to how the system would operate under the SIA.
“A year prior to this decision being made we experienced large cuts in Oranga Tamariki [funding to] providers of support services and now we’re going into more change in the early intervention support area. It’s very concerning,” she said.
Ngāti Porou has been a Family Start provider since 2002 when the programme arrived in Gisborne, where it is known as Tuhono Whānau (“To connect family”). Ngāti Porou supports 140 families through the scheme and is one of two Gisborne-based providers.
Vette said there was “no indication” the programme would continue as an early home-visiting service, which she said was Family Start’s strength.
She is concerned the move is “a shift of money that [the SIA] would utilise as a function to support somebody else”.
The change comes as part of a national review of five large programmes and one national scheme, with Family Start, Gateway and Strengthening Families all under assessment.
Oranga Tamariki deputy chief executive (commissioning and investment) Benesia Smith told the Gisborne Herald the review “was not about reducing funding” and that early support programmes “remain critical to preventing children and young people entering care or the youth justice system”.
The review found Family Start had “moderate impact” as a service.
Smith said Oranga Tamariki and the SIA would “work closely” with providers during the transition.
“Oranga Tamariki will remain the commissioning agency during transition planning.”
Vette said the main concern about the change was a lack of clarity about how Family Start would operate under the SIA. “What are we really investing in?”
The decision follows funding cuts at Oranga Tamariki last year and there are concerns budgets may be trimmed further.
Nathan Harrington, chief executive of Te Kupenga Hauora-Ahuriri, a Family Start provider based in Napier, said: “Many of the whānau [we deal with] are on the cusp of Oranga Tamariki engagement.
“That’s what we’re about - providing that safety net to ensure that whānau don’t end up under the care of Oranga Tamariki.
“We know that early intervention is the cheapest, most cost-effective way of working with whānau.”
Harrington said providers were being left out of the loop over the “nitty-gritty” details that accompanied an agency transition.
“We feel as though we’ve got a lot that we can contribute and we want to work alongside Oranga Tamariki.”
As a result of the review, Oranga Tamariki and the SIA concluded that “retargeting and resigning of programmes is required”.
Minister for Children Karen Chhour, in response to questions from the Gisborne Herald, said: “Last year, Cabinet asked Oranga Tamariki and the Social Investment Agency to review early support and prevention services across Government. Family Start was one of the programmes included in that review.
“Last week, Cabinet agreed that Family Start will transfer to the Social Investment Agency, with a likely transfer date of July 1, 2027.
“To support the transition, Oranga Tamariki is extending Family Start contracts that transfer to the Social Investment Agency through June 30, 2028, to ensure continuity of service, and Oranga Tamariki will remain the commissioning agency during this time.”
Chhour did not reply to questions about providers’ concerns.
Providers said they wanted to be kept informed as the changes took place and given an opportunity to contribute to decision-making throughout the process.
“We accept that decisions are being made,” Harrington said.
“How do we then contribute to what the service is going to look like, and ensure not only our voices as providers, but the voices of whānau are heard?”
Oranga Tamariki and the SIA are set to reconvene with ministers by July 31 to discuss the approach for phase two of the review.