The Auditor-General has found serious failings in the Government’s review of frontline providers such as counselling and prevention services.

“It’s been nearly a year and frontline providers who work with vulnerable families are still waiting on certainty about funding,” Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime said.

“The Auditor-General has found that Oranga Tamariki was poorly prepared to act on Minister Karen Chhour’s rash orders to cut and slash funding contracts for frontline services.

“It’s even more concerning that officials don’t know the consequences of the Minister’s harmful choices on vulnerable children and their whānau.

“I’ll tell you what happens when you take away prevention services – more harm to families and more children in care. Experts have warned about this.

“With reports of vulnerable children almost doubling in the past year, Karen Chhour must act urgently.

“Instead of listening to providers, she attacked them. It’s past time she takes responsibility, owns her mistake, and gives certainty to frontline services who remain anxious about their futures,” Willow-Jean Prime said.

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