Child Protection Protocol (CPP)

Upcoming changes for this guidance

This content will be strengthened so it more completely reflects our commitment to practice framed by te Tiriti o Waitangi, based on a mana-enhancing paradigm for practice, and drawing from ​Te Ao Māori principles of oranga to support mana tamaiti, whakapapa and whanaungatanga. We each need to consider how we can apply these principles to our practice when reading this guidance. The following resources provide support:
Practice for working effectively with Māori
Our practice approach

What is the Child Protection Protocol

When a report of concern of potential harm, abuse or neglect may be a criminal offence, we must work together with Police to ensure our actions do not compromise each other's focus. The Child Protection Protocol: Joint Operating Procedures (CPP) is the process that we follow.

When to follow it

We must follow the CPP when we are responding to complaints (Police) or reports of concern (Oranga Tamariki) that allege actions or behaviour that may constitute a criminal offence, and where there is a role for each party. These actions or types of behaviour fall into 3 categories:

• physical abuse
• sexual abuse
• neglect.

The CPP definitions are on pages 6 to 9 of the CPP joint operating procedures document.

How to follow it

You can download the CPP joint operating procedures document to find out more.

Child Protection Protocol: joint operating procedures (PDF 821 KB)