Oranga Tamariki Reports Increase: 95,422 Concerns in 2024

When a government agency reports a 34.5% jump in child concern reports in a single year, it is natural to ask what is behind the numbers. Oranga Tamariki, New Zealand’s child welfare agency, received 95,422 reports of concern in 2024, relating to 59,391 distinct tamariki.

Total reports (2024): 95,422 ·
Distinct tamariki: 59,391 ·
Year-over-year increase: 34.5%

Four key figures from Oranga Tamariki’s research tell the story of a system under pressure.

How many reports of concern did Oranga Tamariki receive in 2024?

Total reports and distinct tamariki

• Oranga Tamariki recorded 95,422 reports of concern in 2024 (Oranga Tamariki).
• Those reports covered 59,391 distinct tamariki — or roughly one in every 20 children in New Zealand (Oranga Tamariki).

The sheer volume means the agency fielded an average of 261 reports every day. Each report is a separate notification of concern about a child’s safety or wellbeing.

Year-over-year comparison

• The 2024 total jumped 34.5% from the previous year, when approximately 71,000 reports were filed (Oranga Tamariki).
• The agency’s 2024/25 annual report shows an even sharper 44% overall increase in reports and a 17% rise in the number of individual children who were the subject of a report (Oranga Tamariki).

The discrepancy between the 34.5% and 44% figures likely reflects different measurement periods — the research paper covers calendar year 2024, while the annual report covers the 2024/25 financial year.

What this means: The baseline is shifting. Whether measured by calendar or financial year, the number of reports has reached a level that challenges the system’s capacity.

Why have reports of concern increased?

Contributing factors

• Oranga Tamariki states there is no single reason behind the rise (Oranga Tamariki).
• Recording changes account for at least 24% of the increase — each report is now counted even if the family is already known to the agency (Oranga Tamariki).
• Public awareness: more people know how and when to report (Oranga Tamariki).
• Social and economic stress: housing insecurity, cost of living, and mental distress are putting more strain on families (Oranga Tamariki).

The agency links that stress to wider pressures across New Zealand — including housing shortages and rising living costs — which in turn increase the risk of harm to children.

Awareness and reporting changes

Public awareness campaigns and media coverage have encouraged more people to report concerns. The agency notes that improved recording ensures every report is captured, even for families already receiving support.

What this means: The rise is not simply a sign of worsening conditions — it also reflects better detection and counting. But the strain on families is real and growing.

How many kids in New Zealand are in foster care?

Foster care numbers

• Oranga Tamariki handles thousands of foster care placements annually (Oranga Tamariki).
• The 2024/25 annual report shows a 17% increase in individual children with reports, which often precedes foster care entry (Oranga Tamariki).

Exact foster care numbers for 2024 were not published in the research provided, but the annual report contains detailed placement data.

Relationship to reports of concern

Higher reports of concern generally lead to more children entering care. The 34.5% increase in reports suggests the number of children in foster care will rise correspondingly.

What this means: The rising tide of reports is likely translating into more children entering care.

What is the process for reporting a concern to Oranga Tamariki?

Filing a report of concern

• Reports can be made to Oranga Tamariki by phone, online, or through community partners (Oranga Tamariki).
• Mandatory reporters include teachers, health professionals, and police (Oranga Tamariki).

After a report is made, Oranga Tamariki assesses the information to determine the level of response needed.

What happens after a report is made

• The agency triages reports based on urgency (Oranga Tamariki).
• Not all reports lead to formal investigation; some result in family support or referrals (Oranga Tamariki).

What this means: The process is designed to filter reports so that limited resources go to the children most at risk.

How many kids are adopted in New Zealand each year?

Adoption statistics

• Adoptions in New Zealand have declined over the long term (Oranga Tamariki).
• For the most recent figures, the Oranga Tamariki annual report contains adoption data (Oranga Tamariki).

Context within child protection system

Adoption numbers are dwarfed by the volume of reports of concern. The 95,422 reports in 2024 contrast with a few hundred adoptions each year, highlighting that the child protection system is primarily about support and reunification, not adoption.

What this means: Adoption is a small part of the picture. The real story is the scale of reports and the strain on services.

Timeline

Oranga Tamariki’s timeline shows how the crisis has escalated and what lies ahead.

The pattern: Each year brings more reports, and the agency expects that trend to accelerate.

The increase reflects a combination of greater public awareness and improved reporting systems.

— Oranga Tamariki research team (Oranga Tamariki)

Official data shows more than 95,000 reports of concern were made last year.

— RNZ reporter (RNZ via Oranga Tamariki research)

For New Zealand’s child protection system, the choice is between investing in capacity to handle rising reports of concern or facing a system that cannot keep pace. The data from Oranga Tamariki makes clear that the status quo is no longer sustainable.

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