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We were established in 2019 to monitor compliance with the National Care Standards (NCS) Regulations.

On 1 May 2023 our role was expanded to monitor the whole of the oranga tamariki system. The oranga tamariki system includes services like early support, care, youth justice and transitions out of care. This also includes work to support whānau
Whānau refers to people who are biologically linked or share whakapapa. For the Monitor’s monitoring purposes, whānau includes parents, whānau members living with tamariki at the point they have come into care View the full glossary wellbeing and reduce risks to tamariki
Children (plural) aged 0-13 yearsView the full glossary.

The Oversight of the Oranga Tamariki System Act requires that we act independently in developing our monitoring tools and approaches, and in carrying out our monitoring function. This ensures that our operations and findings are independent from Ministers and government agencies, and that our monitoring can be trusted by both the public, and decision makers.  

Our people | Kaimahi

Nearly two thirds of our kaimahi are focused on gathering and analysing information, reflecting our emphasis on listening to the voices of those experiencing the system.

Our operational teams (our monitors who visit communities) are spread around the motu – in Tāmaki (Auckland), Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington) and Ōtautahi
ChristchurchView the full glossary (Christchurch).

​​​​​​​Our monitors come from a range of backgrounds and areas of expertise including social work, psychology, education and law. They are trained in listening and speaking with children and young people and have experience in working with different communities, including Māori communities. 

Whanganui-a-tara is the base for most of the teams who support this work and carry the voices of experience through into the reports we publish. This includes Data and Insights, Performance, Policy and Practice (PPP) and Communications, and Māori and Community Engagement.

Chief Executive

Chief Executive

Arran Jones is the Chief Executive of Aroturuki Tamariki
Children (plural) aged 0-13 yearsView the full glossary, the Independent Children’s Monitor. Arran has been with us since April 2020. He has a legal background, having spent over ten years working in the Ministry of Social Development’s Legal Service both as senior solicitor and Deputy Chief Legal Advisor leading operational and corporate teams.

Arran has held several leadership roles at the Ministry of Social Development including in the Office of the Chief Executive, Legal Services and at Work and Income. More recently he was Head of Privacy at ACC. Arran also led the Partnerships and Programmes workstream in the Investing in Children programme that established Oranga Tamariki.

“My vision for Aroturuki Tamariki is to listen to many voices, most importantly of  tamariki (children), rangatahi
Young person aged 14 – 21 years of ageView the full glossary (young people) and their whānau
Whānau refers to people who are biologically linked or share whakapapa. For the Monitor’s monitoring purposes, whānau includes parents, whānau members living with tamariki at the point they have come into care View the full glossary (family), to reflect and then share insights to hold the oranga tamariki system to account and also support better informed decision making, both at the centre and in communities. I believe this is how we can provide the greatest support to Oranga Tamariki and other monitored agencies, the organisations providing services in the oranga tamariki system, and ultimately the tamariki and rangatahi in their care or at risk of coming into care.”

Chief Monitor

Chief Monitor

Nova Banaghan is the Chief Monitor. Nova has been with us since August 2019. She is a registered Social Worker and has had a 20-year career in the public service, including leadership roles with Child, Youth and Family, the Ministry of Social Development, and the Department of Corrections.

Nova’s experience includes working directly with tamariki
Children (plural) aged 0-13 yearsView the full glossary (children) and their whānau
Whānau refers to people who are biologically linked or share whakapapa. For the Monitor’s monitoring purposes, whānau includes parents, whānau members living with tamariki at the point they have come into care View the full glossary (families), and supporting the Women’s Strategy at the Department of Corrections. Nova has also developed relationships with non-government organisations, and iwi
TribeView the full glossary and Māori organisations. She is also on the board of governors for a not-for-profit organisation supporting children and families of those with a parent in prison.

“Part of the role of Aroturuki Tamariki is to highlight great practice and to support professionals to have everything they need to help tamariki and rangatahi
Young person aged 14 – 21 years of ageView the full glossary to have positive lives. We do this by identifying what supports them to do this and what gets in the way. My aim is to see practice improvement, and all agencies working together through the influence of Aroturuki Tamariki, to give tamariki and rangatahi the best opportunities."

General Manager, Corporate, Strategy and Insights

General Manager, Corporate, Strategy and Insights

Shelley Tyson is the General Manager, Corporate, Strategy and Insights and has been at Aroturuki Tamariki
Children (plural) aged 0-13 yearsView the full glossary since October 2019.  She has an HR background and has worked in a range of agencies including the Ministry of Social Development, WorkSafe, Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.  Shelley joined us in our establishment phase and was instrumental in developing our functional design and organisational structure, before leading the recruitment of our first 40 kaimahi.  

Shelley holds responsibility for a wide range of functions including data and insights, strategy and performance, report development, learning and development, human resources and other corporate deliverables.   

“My role is about supporting Aroturuki Tamariki kaimahi so they can deliver the best, most accurate and helpful information and insights, that drive improvements in the oranga tamariki system and better outcomes for tamariki and rangatahi
Young person aged 14 – 21 years of ageView the full glossary experiencing the system.” 

Te Kāhui

In May 2019, Te Kāhui
To flock, to herd, to cluster and so denotes a groupView the full glossary was established to help achieve the engagement and collaboration goals for the policy and legislative phase of our establishment. These key Māori leaders play a pivotal role in supporting us by providing advice and support on our monitoring approach and how we work. Members of Te Kāhui have expertise, leadership, and mana
Prestige, authority, control, power, influence, status, spiritual power, charismaView the full glossary in health, justice, and social services for Māori.

Tā Mark Solomon KNZM

Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Kurī

Tā Mark Wiremu Solomon is an experienced and respected leader of his hapū
Sub-tribeView the full glossary, his iwi
TribeView the full glossary and the wider New Zealand business community. He has served as a member of his local school board and the board of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, as a trustee of Takahanga Marae in his home kāinga
Address, residence, village, settlement, habitation, habitat, dwellingView the full glossary of Kaikoura, as Kaiwhakahaere of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu for nearly 18 years and has held a number of government, board and directorship roles including the Canterbury District Health Board, Deep South Science Challenge Board, Sustainable Seas Science Challenge Board, Te Ohu Kaimoana, Te Pūtahitanga o Te Waipounamu Whānau Ora Commission, E Tū Whānau
Whānau refers to people who are biologically linked or share whakapapa. For the Monitor’s monitoring purposes, whānau includes parents, whānau members living with tamariki at the point they have come into care View the full glossary. Tā Mark is a strong advocate for Māori.

Katie Murray MNZM, QSM

Te Rarawa, Te Aupouri, Ngāti Kuri, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kahu, Ngāi Takoto

Katie Murray is the Kai Arahi of Waitomo Papakāinga, a whānau
Whānau refers to people who are biologically linked or share whakapapa. For the Monitor’s monitoring purposes, whānau includes parents, whānau members living with tamariki at the point they have come into care View the full glossary-based and focused kaupapa Māori social service agency in Kaitaia. Waitomo Papakāinga supports whānau wellbeing in the community by providing them a wide range of options and advocating oin their behalf. Katie is actively involved in her community of Te Hiku ō Te Ika and has a degree in Social Work. She is the Chair of Te Rūnanga ō Te Rarawa and is a member of a number of iwi
TribeView the full glossary and Crown boards and committees. Katie is a straight talking, passionate and is a visionary Māori woman committed to the restoration of tino rangatiratanga for whānau, hapū
Sub-tribeView the full glossary and iwi.

Eugene Ryder BSW

Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Awa and Tūwharetoa ki Kawerau

Eugene Ryder has over 25 years’ experience working to support marginalised families. His expertise and voluntary work in and alongside gang communities in particular, is exceptional. Eugene was appointed by the Chair of the Royal Commission on the Abuse of Children in State Care as an Ambassador and key contact with networks in the gang and wider community. Eugene has worked alongside various government departments advising and sharing his knowledge and expertise, most notably with the Department of Justice, Department of Corrections, Oranga Tamariki and the Ministry for Social Development. He is a Co-Chair for the  Survivors Experience Board and a Kaitiaki on the Climate Commission’s Ināia Tonu Nei programme.

Enid Ratahi-Pryor QSO

Te Whānau
Whānau refers to people who are biologically linked or share whakapapa. For the Monitor’s monitoring purposes, whānau includes parents, whānau members living with tamariki at the point they have come into care View the full glossary-ā-Apanui and Ngāti Awa
 
Enid has a 30 year career in Executive Management and has held roles as a former Chief Executive of Iwi
TribeView the full glossary Rūnanga, Iwi Holding Companies and Iwi social health and social services.  She brings extensive knowledge and experience through her work across a number of sectors. This includes developing and implementing a range of health, social service and employment deliverables and outcomes to whānau experiencing severe vulnerability through living in poverty. Enid has also held a number of governance positions within Housing NZ, Bay of Plenty District Health Board and Primary Health Organisations.  She has also served on a number of government-led Working Parties, Community Working Groups and Philanthropic bodies including Lotteries and Community Trusts. More recently she is responsible for leading out one of the Enabling Communities projects in 2024.  The initiative seeks to reduce the number of tamariki
Children (plural) aged 0-13 yearsView the full glossary coming into state care by reducing the state’s role in caring for tamariki.  It aims to do this by increasing both Iwi and communities’ role in looking after their tamariki within their own communities. This initiative will lead to major transformation as the state’s role reduces not only in care but all other facets of their lives. She was awarded a Queens Service Order in 2003 for Public Service. Enid and her husband live in Whakatāne, she has two adult daughters and a mokopuna. 

Wayne Blissett BSW

Ngāpuhi

Wayne is currently the Executive Director, Tuia Te Oranga (Rangitanē o Manawatū) which provides a range of whānau ora and social services to tamariki
Children (plural) aged 0-13 yearsView the full glossary, rangatahi
Young person aged 14 – 21 years of ageView the full glossary and whānau
Whānau refers to people who are biologically linked or share whakapapa. For the Monitor’s monitoring purposes, whānau includes parents, whānau members living with tamariki at the point they have come into care View the full glossary with a specialist kaupapa Māori service in the youth justice space who are known to Oranga Tamariki.  Wayne has over 25 years’ experience working in Kaupapa Māori health and social services following his degree in Social Work. As a graduate of state care, Wayne has a passion for ensuring tamariki and rangatahi receive the highest quality of support and opportunity while in the care of the state while ensuring a whānau-centred approach. Wayne is also the Co-Chair of Te Kaunihera – The Māori Committee to the Royal Australia New Zealand College of Psychiatry and a member of the Genomics Aotearoa
New ZealandView the full glossary Māori Data Advisory Group.