Agencies face a string of deadlines to overhaul how they deal with children at risk, with Social Development Minister Louise Upston requiring monthly progress updates after the release of the Marokopa inquiry earlier this month.
Upston, who is leading the Government's response, said she expected the first update within days and that she would reassess monthly reporting early next year.
"I want New Zealanders to be confident that I'm watching this with detail and will make sure that progress is made on the recommendations at pace," Upston told 1News.
The inquiry, led by retired High Court judge Simon Moore KC, was released on September 15. It found police and Oranga Tamariki could have prevented Tom Phillips from taking his children a second time, or found them sooner, if they had shared more information.
Marokopa inquiry prompts new scrutiny of how agencies protect children - Watch on TVNZ+
The Social Development Minister says she’s expecting the first update within days. (Source: 1News)
Phillips and his three young children disappeared from Marokopa, an isolated rural Waikato town, in December 2021.
Police shot Phillips dead on September 8 last year, almost four years later.
At a press conference on the day the report came out, Upston apologised to the Phillips children on behalf of the Government.
"But bluntly, we've got to do better and we've got to do it fast, which is why I will be taking a very close interest in ensuring that progress around these recommendations is made at pace," she said.
The heads of police and Oranga Tamariki have already promised changes. 1News can confirm that chief executives at the ministries of health, education, social development and justice, as well as Corrections and Te Puni Kōkiri, are being asked to do the same.
Children’s charity Barnardos calls for action as a report outlines failings in the so-called Marokopa fugitive case. (Source: 1News)
"All of those CEs need to be clear. They already have a responsibility as part of the children's system and my expectation is that every public servant knows they can and they must share information when a child's welfare or safety is at risk," Upston said.
Police and Oranga Tamariki say they have already made changes.
Together with Health NZ, they have updated the Child Protection Protocol to recognise the deliberate concealment and isolation of a child as a form of harm that can trigger a multi-agency response.
Oranga Tamariki chief executive Amanda Malu said the agency was committed to learning from the inquiry.
"The Police Commissioner and I are both committed to making sure our teams work better together, and that when appropriate they call other agencies together to discuss child safety concerns. We are making these expectations very clear to our people," she said.
Social Development Minister Louise Upston said the children were deprived of a happy childhood. (Source: 1News)
Malu said new guidance was being developed for frontline staff to ensure the Family Court received the most complete information possible, including all concerns raised.
Training materials would follow, with both expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Police Commissioner Richard Chambers said police had already amended its missing persons policy to strengthen child protection escalation and require earlier engagement with child protection expertise.
Firearms operational guidance had also been updated to require staff to consider and report child safety concerns identified through licensing activities.
"Police fully supports Minister Upston's expectation that agencies must work together proactively and share information whenever there are concerns about a child's safety or wellbeing," Chambers said.
Terms of reference developed with the privacy and welfare of the three "vulnerable" children in mind. (Source: 1News)
Both agencies said joint training for the refreshed Child Protection Protocol would be developed before Christmas, with rollout beginning early next year.
'You can't put a price on that'
Child Matters chief executive Megan West took over the child protection organisation in July. She previously worked as a social worker at Oranga Tamariki. She called the response a good first step, but said the public needed proof that things had changed.
"It's a great start. But we actually need to see evidence of change as well. How will New Zealanders know that change has happened?"
West said the work would need more funding.
"It is going to take a lot more government money, and actually that's the right place for government money to be spent."
It's been a week since Tom Phillips' time on the run came to a tragic end. (Source: 1News)
She said high staff turnover at many government agencies was one reason.
"What happens with that is that experience leaves. So training must be ongoing and it must continue. And it must go beyond words on paper or e-learning modules."
When asked whether a case like the Phillips children's could happen again, Upston said no one could rule it out.
"You can never predict the future, but what I would say is New Zealanders, as well as anyone who is working in the public service, have a responsibility. If they think that a child is in harm or their welfare is in danger, then they must and can speak up."
Upston said she would review the monthly reporting early in the new year.
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