Easter YMCA Camp
This Easter, we were stoked to spend the day at an Oranga Tamariki respite camp run by YMCA. From the moment we arrived at the YMCA Camp, there was an atmosphere of excitement, curiosity, and openness. It was one of those special days where everyone – tamariki, rangatahi, and kaimahi – came together to connect, […]
“Why haven’t they heard us?” Care experience rangatahi fear they’ll be stripped of basic human right after section 7AA repeal
Legislation stripping Treaty provisions from the Oranga Tamariki Act passed its third and final reading in Parliament last week, and has been granted royal assent by the Governor General leaving many concerned about what this will mean for the many young Māori currently in care. Children’s Minister Karen Chhour introduced her bill to repeal section […]
Advocates and care experienced rangatahi “saddened but not surprised” that system failures mean National Care Standards still not being met.
As the fourth Independent Children’s Monitor report into National Care Standards is released, there’s disappointment and frustration that tamariki and rangatahi in care are still not receiving the bare minimum set out by the regulations. 200 young people and 1600 others who support them including whānau, caregivers, social workers and teachers formed part of the […]
Learn to Surf – Ōtautahi
On Friday, 24th January, VOYCE – Whakarongo Mai teamed up with Surfwise to give a group of tamariki and rangatahi an unforgettable day of surfing at Waikuku Beach! Thanks to the generous support of Sport Canterbury’s Tū Manawa Fund, we created an opportunity for young people in care to connect, challenge themselves, and have heaps […]
Foster Youth Museum Pop-Up (Ōtautahi)
On Saturday, 25th January, seven rangatahi came together to co-create an exhibition for the Care-Experienced Youth Pop-Up Museum—an initiative by VOYCE – Whakarongo Mai in partnership with the Foster Youth Museum. This free pop-up exhibition was designed by rangatahi with lived experience in care, sharing their stories, resilience, and mana through art, personal artifacts, and […]
Waitangi Day Celebrations
Toitu Te tiriti – Honour Te Tiriti Read Te Tiriti here Read He Whakaputanga here Waitangi Day has been a significant day on New Zealand’s calendar since the Treaty of Waitangi was first signed in 1840. The flagstaff which stands on the Upper Treaty Grounds marks the location of the first Treaty signing by representatives of […]
Voices at Velocity
Voices at Velocity was an exciting youth-led event where tamariki and rangatahi took the lead! Young people from the care community came together to share their ideas on the kinds of events they want to see from VOYCE Ikaroa-Rāwhiti in 2025. Their voices were strong and proud, making sure our future events are fun, meaningful, […]
Kat’s Journey: Earning, Growing, and Overcoming Challenges
At just 23, Kat is juggling a lot—raising a baby and caring for a 12-year-old—so finding flexible work that fits her responsibilities is no easy task. That’s why her recent experience working with Multi Events Limited through VOYCE – Whakarongo Mai was such a big deal. Kat successfully completed two shifts, gaining valuable work experience […]
Whakarongo Podcast by VOYCE – Amplifying Care-Experienced Voices
When I joined VOYCE in 2020, one of the first things care-experienced young people told me was, “VOYCE needs a podcast.” At first, I thought, “Doesn’t everyone have a podcast these days?” But the idea stayed with me. Over the years, things got busy. Between creating comic books, magazines, reports, and election campaigns, there just […]
Our Kids Need New Boots Not Boot Camps This Xmas.
Dear Prime Minister, We are writing to you to express our deep and sincere concerns about the Oranga Tamariki (Responding to Serious Youth Offending) Amendment Bill currently passing through Parliament. Like most New Zealanders, we share a desire for strong, healthy, thriving communities. We empathise with victims of crime in our communities, and want to […]