Oranga Tamariki Act 1989

Care and protection of children and young persons - Reporting of child abuse

15: Reporting of concerns to chief executive or constable

You could also call this:

"Telling someone in charge if you think a child is being hurt or needs help"

Illustration for Oranga Tamariki Act 1989

If you think a child or young person has been harmed, or might be harmed, you can report it. You can tell the chief executive or a police officer if you are worried about a child's well-being. You can report concerns about physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, neglect, or deprivation.

You can report if you think a child is being ill-treated or deprived of things they need. The chief executive or a constable will look into the matter you report. You can make a report if you have concerns about a child's safety or well-being.

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This page was last updated on 25 May 2025

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM149467.

Topics:

Family and relationships > Children and parentingCrime and justice > Victim supportHealth and wellbeing > Mental health

14A: Conduct outside New Zealand, or

"What happens to a child outside New Zealand can still affect their care and protection."

16: Providing information about safety or well-being of child or young person, or

"Sharing concerns about a child's safety is protected by law"

Part 2Care and protection of children and young persons
Reporting of child abuse

15Reporting of concerns to chief executive or constable

Any person who believes that a child or young person has been, or is likely to be, harmed, ill-treated, abused, (whether physically, emotionally, or sexually), neglected, or deprived, or who has concerns about the well-being of a child or young person, may report the matter to the chief executive or a constable.

Notes

Section 15: replaced, on 1 July 2019, by section 18 of the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families (Oranga Tamariki) Legislation Act 2017 (2017 No 31).