Welcome to VOYCE

Rangatahi

What’s a Kaiwhakamana?

VOYCE will help you to have a say and understand decisions that are made about your care journey. VOYCE also runs connection events (we call them Tūhono), where you can meet other young people who are in care!

A Kaiwhakamana is an advocate – someone who’s got your back. We help you have a say and make sense of what’s going on. We make sure the adults listen to you and understand how you feel.

We can help you to have your voice heard on lots of things, like spending time with your siblings, getting pocket money, contacting your social worker, going to hui, figuring things out when you leave care.

If you want to spend time with your kaiwhakamana, you get to decide where you hang out and what you talk about. You’re the boss!

We have heaps of fun projects and cool events happening all the time. You don’t have to wait until there’s a problem to get involved.

Get in touch or reach out to your Kaiwhakamana!

VOYCE – Whakarongo Mai stands for “Voices of the Young and Care Experienced – Listen to Me”. We were designed with young people with care experience, for young people with care experience. VOYCE works with care experienced pēpi (babies), tamariki (children) and rangatahi (young people).

“Care Experienced” means someone who has spent time in care. Being in care can look different for everyone, but some common types of care are:

Whāngai/Whānau Care

Foster Care

Group Homes and Residences

Youth Justice

Permanent Care

Leaving Care

Examples of Kaiwhakamana work!

“My Kaiwhakamana supported me to prepare for my Family Group Conference and work out what I wanted to say"
Ihorangi
“My Kaiwhakamana supported me through court and made sure my voice was heard by the decision makers around me”
Azariya
“My Kaiwhakamana helped advocate my rights to remain with my caregiver after 18.”
Veronica
"My Kaiwhakamana helped me add my own kupu and kōrero into my section 128 court plan and helped me get a bank account so I can have my pocket money and xmas money put into it"
Anonymous
“My Kaiwhakamana helped nurture and support me as a new mum transitioning out of Oranga Tamariki’s care.”
V
“My Kaiwhakamana supported me through my transition in independence and accessing my entitlements. She also helped advocate for me to access the right services when I needed them.”
Kat
Previous
Next

GET IN TOUCH WITH US:
0800 4VOYCE (0800 486 923)

FOR EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE:
Call for Police, Fire or Ambulance dial 111

FOR URGENT HELP ABOUT YOUR CARE:
Call Oranga Tamariki 0508 FAMILY (0508 326 459)

ABOUT VOYCE
CONTACT US
CAREERS
GET SUPPORT
OUR LOCATIONS

YOUR RIGHTS
YOUR EVENTS
NEWS
PRIVACY POLICY
COMPLAINTS POLICY

Our Partners

Whānau care is where a child is being raised by someone in their whānau or extended family. Often it means a child living with their grandparents – but could also be another family member like an aunt, uncle or older sibling. Whāngai is the traditional Māori practice of whānau care.

Foster Care is where children and young people who can’t live with their families are looked after by caregivers they’re not related to. Foster Care can be short-term or long-term, and usually involves Oranga Tamariki or a community Foster Care provider.

Group Homes and Residences have staff who should be trained to work with groups of young people whose needs are best looked after in a residential setting. These placements are usually temporary and should give young people more structure and supervision than they might get in other types of care.

The youth justice system in Aotearoa is set up to deal with children aged 10-13 and young people aged 14-18 who have done something illegal. Being in the custody of the Police, Oranga Tamariki or Corrections as a young person is a form of care, whether it’s in Police cells, a community remand home, a Youth Justice secure residence, or an adult prison.

Permanent Care is when foster or whānau caregivers apply for Guardianship Orders under the Care of Children Act 2004. This is sometimes called ‘Home for Life’ or ‘Permanency’, and means caregivers are committing to taking care of a child permanently.

There are a few ways young people leave care. Sometimes a young person is supported to return home after spending time in care. Sometimes a young person leaves care to live independently before they are an adult. Sometimes a young person “ages out” of being in care when they turn 18 years.