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When children and young people move (including overseas)

Updated: 09 November 2022

Changing locations is a particularly vulnerable time for mokopuna, which means it is even more important that we continue to be child-centred in our every interaction and always put the best interests of mokopuna first. This includes their need for cultural connectivity. It is our job to make sure their transition is as smooth as possible.

This policy outlines requirements when mokopuna are living outside their home country or travelling internationally. There is a new policy for casework responsibilities when our work involves more than 1 site – when tamariki are living outside their normal area or travelling within New Zealand. There is also a separate travel policy.

Policy sections

Overseas placement

Mokopuna in the custody of the chief executive, or for whom the chief executive is party to a plan resulting from a family group conference, will only be placed overseas under exceptional circumstances when:

the overseas placement is in their best interests; and
the overseas authority has recommended that the proposed caregivers are safe and suitable; and
the chief executive’s legal obligations have been discharged by the Court or any plan the chief executive is party to has been reviewed and concluded; and
upon departure from New Zealand the case is closed; and
the mokopuna is able to permanently reside in the relevant country; and
the new caregivers are able and willing to legally assume custody and guardianship of the mokopuna.

Overseas placement is a guardianship decision and the consent of all guardians in writing must be obtained prior to the placement being made. This includes consent from any additional guardians granted under the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 or the Care of Children Act 2004. If the guardians are not in agreement about the overseas placement, the Family Court must make the final decision.

The placement must be approved by the DCE Service Delivery.

When the family group conference is being held as a result of a s19 referral by a Child and Family Support Service, that service is responsible for taking adequate steps to check that the prospective caregivers are able to adequately meet the care and protection needs of the mokopuna.

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When children and young people move (including overseas)

Policy sections

Overseas placement

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