Research highlights the voices of children and young people in care
We’ve released research about how children and young people in care, and their trusted adults – want to connect with us and raise concerns.
What we learned through this research has shaped how we communicate with children and young people. This includes the Nau-mai website opens page in this tab, online forms, printed resources, and the way our processes work.
This research was about listening and understanding what works. We wanted to know how to best help children and young people in care - and the people who support them – find out about us and what we do, and feel safe to raise concerns about their care from Oranga Tamariki or their providers.
The research took place in three phases between 2020 and 2025. We started with the evidence review and interviews, then speaking directly with children and young people, whānau, and trusted adults. Most recently, we tested the nau-mai.nz opens page in this tab website and supporting materials to check these were working for the people who need to use them.
More than 100 children and young people took part in the research, alongside caregivers, social workers, teachers, and youth workers.
The findings highlight several key themes:
- The importance of having a clear understanding of what works best when working with children, help-seeking, and complaints processes
- The need to reflect te ao Māori in tools and communication
- Making information accessible for people with different literacy levels and abilities
- Language matters – and the need to mindful of what words are used and how they can be received, especially how the word “complaint” can be a barrier
- It was encouraging to learn through user testing that young people and their trusted adults found the Nau-mai.nz website and printed materials clear, helpful, and easy to use. Many said they better understood their rights and what to do if they had a concern. Trusted adults also shared this view.
The research was guided by the whakataukī “Ahakoa he iti, he pounamu - Despite being small you are of great value. Your voice matters. Your experience matters.”