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Three oversight agencies are urging government departments to act faster to improve child safety, after a new review found children remain no safer than when Malachi Subecz was killed by his carer in 2021.
The joint media release comes from Aroturuki Tamariki – Independent Children’s Monitor, Mana Mokopuna – Children’s Commissioner and Office of the Ombudsman.
The Independent Children’s Monitor has published its second review of progress on recommendations from the 2022 Poutasi Report, which examined how to strengthen the child protection system following Malachi’s death.
Chief executive Arran Jones said that since December 2021, 24 children have been killed by someone meant to be caring for them, up to June 2025.
“Many of these were babies, most were under the age of five. This is equivalent to a primary school classroom of 24 children, gone in just three and a half years,” he said.
The review found gaps identified by Dame Karen Poutasi remain, and that Oranga Tamariki is still not always able to respond when children need protection.
Jones said successive reviews over two decades had highlighted similar issues, with limited evidence of lasting change.
“The Government’s decision last year to accept all of Dame Karen’s recommendations was a good first step. While there are some promising pilots, we need to see continued priority given to making sustained change.”
Children’s Commissioner Dr Claire Achmad said the deaths must “shock us into action”, warning urgent and sustained changes are needed to keep children safe.
Chief Ombudsman John Allen said stronger cross-agency collaboration across health, education, welfare and justice is essential, while noting early “green shoots” including new in-person hub pilots and community-led initiatives.
