Oranga Tamariki is investigating but would not provide the Otago Daily Times with any specifics on the nature or number of the mistreatment claims from the Abbotsford-based Will Street Whare, nor give an update on the status of its inquiries, nor confirm an investigation existed.
"Oranga Tamariki is undertaking an assessment process that involves Te Kāika to determine any future operations of Will Street Whare," he said.
A spokeswoman for mana mokopuna children’s commissioner, though, confirmed the Will St property had been out of use because of "alleged abuse by caregivers".
It was not involved in the Oranga Tamariki investigation, she said.
Te Kāika was awarded the $1,027,037 contract to run the four-bed youth remand home in 2023, documents released under the Official Information Act revealed.
However, there was note of "funds reconciled ... due to underutilisation".
Information about contract terms, the allegations of abuse and the employment of staff allegedly involved was sought.
"Te Kāika will not be making any further comment to the ODT," a spokeswoman said.
The revelation of this latest bombshell for the beleaguered Caversham-based health and social service comes after a turbulent month.
It was recently revealed the board chairwoman (and former deputy children’s commissioner) Donna Matahaere-Atariki and her son chief executive Matt Matahaere were being investigated by the Department of Internal Affairs over interest-free loans they allegedly took from Te Kāika’s parent charity Ōtākou Health Ltd.
Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora confirmed representatives met the Te Kāika board the following week.
In an email to staff, Mr Matahaere called it a "constructive and supportive" session.
A subsequent in-house executive leadership meeting this week was described as "a high-level discussion, with nothing of significance arising that needs to be shared more widely".
The Will St remand home has had a somewhat checkered past, suffering staffing issues and sometimes being mothballed.
It was reopened in 2017 but caused ructions with neighbours who felt in the dark about Oranga Tamariki’s plans, prompting a public meeting and charm offensive by then chief executive Grainne Moss.
The home hit headlines again following a children’s commissioner report in 2022, which highlighted "harmful" issues that needed urgent addressing.
Among the problems — which led to the commissioner making 17 recommendations — were that young people had no access to independent advocacy; house parents received no induction, training, professional development or supervision; and there were shortcomings regarding working with rangatahi Māori.
