A time of renewal: Strategy Review findings and recommendations

The arrival of Spring, considered the season of hope and renewal, brings an energy of new beginnings and growth. 

The recent review of the Strategy offers a similar sense of renewal. We heard from stakeholders that the Strategy’s vision and outcomes remain sound and relevant, and provide a strong basis for collective action to improve the wellbeing of children and young people.  Given the strong level of support, the Review recommended that no changes are required to the Strategy framework. 

However, the Review found that there is considerable scope to better support the implementation of the Strategy. It recommended key changes that will help the Strategy to be a catalyst for, and driver of, system change to support the wellbeing of all children and young people.

Read the Review findings and recommendations

Summary engagement reports

To help inform the Strategy Review, we undertook a series of small-scale, targeted engagements with key partners and stakeholders from June-July 2022, most notably with children and young people themselves.

The summary reports include the key themes and insights from the engagements, and include an overview of who was involved and the methodology. 

Find out more
 

Progress updates

This section highlights recent progress updates on Programme of Action items, and other initiatives that will support child and youth wellbeing:

• The Govt has expanded Mana Ake to more than 3,000 primary and intermediate school-aged children living on the West Coast.
• Rainbow health received $2.2m in additional funding to provide gender affirming care to gender diverse people.
• The new Ministry of Disabled People chief executive has been appointed.
• More than more than 1,000 Pacific People found employment in the last six months through the Tupu Aotearoa programme.
• The Oversight of Oranga Tamariki System Bill and the Children and Young People’s Commission Bill passed their Third Reading in Parliament.
• The Oranga Tamariki Action Plan commits all children’s agencies to work together to achieve the outcomes in the Child and Youth Wellbeing Strategy for the children and young people with the greatest needs.
• One million free school lunches are being served up every week, reaching 220,000 kids.
• There are also more than 2,000 schools involved in the free period products in schools programme.  
• A package of changes to NCEA and University Entrance recognises the impact COVID-19 has had on senior secondary students’ assessment towards NCEA in 2022.
• A new school Attendance and Engagement Strategy has been set to decrease dropping attendance rates.
• The Every School Day is a Big Day campaign aims to promote and support school attendance.
• Improved student achievement is being boosted by the launch of Hei Raukura mō te Mokopuna and The Literacy, Communication and Maths Strategy action plans.
• Five new members joined a ministerial youth advisory group, providing young people with an opportunity to help shape the education system.
• The 10^th Youth Parliament gave young people from across Aotearoa New Zealand the opportunity to experience the parliamentary process and learn how government works.
• The inaugural eliminating family violence and sexual violence annual hui took stock of the work underway to ensure all children, families and whānau can thrive in safe homes and communities.
• More than 2 million New Zealanders are eligible for the targeted Cost of Living Payment, providing an extra $116 per month for 3 months.

Your stories and feedback

It's inspiring to hear about the great stuff that's happening in communities around the country. Check out our most recent stories below. Please continue to let us know about new initiatives or send us your ideas or feedback - we'd love to hear from you! Contact us on: childyouthwellbeing@dpmc.govt.nz  

Creating safe, stable and nurturing environments for children to learn and play

A Manawatu-based grassroots organisation, MentorED, is collaborating with schools and other NGOs to bring about better outcomes for tamariki.
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Puāwai – Supporting young people to thrive

Young people from marginalised communities are being given the opportunity to blossom, thanks to a Christchurch-based youth development programme.
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Active Whakapapa leads the way in West Auckland

Almost 900 people took part in a series of hikoi that aimed to connect them to the place they call home, by sharing the history of Mana Whenua while traversing the whenua.
Find out more