Chappie Te Kani

At the time of the hearing Chappie Te Kani was the acting Chief Executive Officer of Oranga Tamariki. Chappie first joined Oranga Tamariki as Deputy Chief Executive Governance and Engagement, and before that he held several senior public servant roles, including Assistant Commissioner at the Public Service Commission, Head of System Assurance and Continuous Improvement at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) and Acting Chief Executive at Te Arawhiti. Chappie was the lead witness for Oranga Tamariki and his evidence focused on the role and functions of Oranga Tamariki and its predecessor.

Peter Whitcombe

At the time of the hearing Peter Whitcombe was the Chief Social Worker, which is a Deputy Chief Executive role within Oranga Tamariki. Peter had a long career in Oranga Tamariki and its predecessor agency, beginning as a social worker. He held General Manager roles for Youth Justice and Care, was Senior Responsible Owner for the Care Standards Programme, and a Children’s Team Director. Peter also led the establishment of the Crown/Iwi partnership with Ngāi Tahu, the first of Oranga Tamariki's National Strategic Partnerships. Peter’s evidence included the provision of care, entry into care and youth justice.

Nicolette Dickson

At the time of the hearing Nicolette Dickson was the Deputy Chief Executive Quality Practice and Experiences at Oranga Tamariki. Nicolette is a registered social worker and had over 20 years of experience as a social work practitioner and leader. After joining Child Youth and Family, she held a range of practice and leadership roles across the organisation in care and protection and also in youth justice as a site, operations and regional manager. Nicolette held senior national roles as General Manager Practice and co-directed our new Practice Framework. Nicolette’s evidence included monitoring and oversight of the care system, entry into care and the provision of care.

Frana Chase

At the time of the hearing Frana Chase was the Director Transformation, Te Oranga o te Whānau at Oranga Tamariki. Frana was a Pou Mana Whakahaere — Ratonga Awhina when she first joined Oranga Tamariki. Prior to that, Frana was the CEO of an iwi-led Health Authority, a Whānau Ora Manager for the Taumarunui, Whanganui and Waikato regions, a social worker and a technical advisor to the Iwi Chairs Forum for Whānau Ora. Frana’s evidence focused on how tamariki and whānau Māori experienced care.

Aiolupotea Sina Aiolupotea-Aiono

At the time of the hearing Aiolupotea Sina Aiolupotea-Aiono was the Chief Advisor Pacific, Office of the Chief Executive at Oranga Tamariki. Before joining Oranga Tamariki, Sina was the Deputy Chief Executive Regional Partnerships at the Ministry for Pacific Peoples and had served at a governance level as a member and chair of several boards in local and central government, as well as in the NGO and local community sectors. Sina is from the villages of Falelima, Paia, Siufaga, Fa’ala Palauli in Savaii, Samoa and holds two chiefly Ali’i titles of Aiolupotea and Toleafoa. Sina’s evidence focused on issues affecting Pacific Peoples in the context of the care system.

Claudia Boyles

At the time of the hearing Claudia Boyles was the Chief Advisor Disability, Office of the Chief Executive at Oranga Tamariki. Before joining Oranga Tamariki, Claudia held senior advisory roles in the public service including Principal Advisor roles at ACC and in the Ministry for the Environment. Claudia has an extensive background in public policy including work in America and Australia with extensive leadership experience across different sectors. Claudia is a disabled person, a paraplegic and wheelchair user. Claudia’s evidence focused on issues affecting disabled people in the context of the care system.

Paula Attrill

At the time of the hearing Paula Attrill was the General Manager International Casework and Adoption at Oranga Tamariki. Paula’s experience with Oranga Tamariki and its predecessor was extensive, spanning 30 years. Paula’s career had largely focused on frontline services in either a site/region or in roles overseeing these. Paula worked for the Secretariat supporting the Expert Advisory Panel, before joining the Investing in Children Programme. In her role as General Manager, Paula has also been Senior Responsible Owner for National Care Standards implementation. Paula’s evidence focused on historical matters relating to entry into care, caregivers and adoption services.