If a child has injuries please seek medical treatment as soon as possible.
If you are concerned for a child or young person who you feel may be at risk, contact Oranga Tamariki - Ministry for Children on 0508 FAMILY (0508 326 459).
Te Puaruruhau is a Starship Child Health, Te Toka Tumai health service for children and young people 0-18 years. The team offers a 24 hour urgent medical service for children and young people who may have experienced acute sexual harm or life threatening injuries as a result of possible maltreatment. Te Puaruruhau also offers paediatric and social work assessments for maltreatment via booked appointments. Our child protection team does not to jump to conclusions. We take a “safety first” approach with any child to make sure they are not at risk.
When Starship staff are concerned a child in hospital may have been hurt or harmed they must refer to us. We also provide consultation support for health professionals across the country.
Te Puaruruhau is located in a multi-agency centre with Police and Oranga Tamariki - Ministry for Children, at 99 Grafton Road (opposite the Starship building) together the three statutory agencies involved in specialist child abuse investigation aim to improve the recovery and care of those affected by child maltreatment.
Te Puaruruhau also offers:
- Power to Protect programme. Power to Protect programme aims to reduce paediatric abusive head trauma in Aotearoa. The programme provides information about supporting whānau with newborn babies, the stressors they might experience and skills and supports that promote safety. The Power to Protect Coordinator delivers training and information to hospitals across the country.
- Family Violence Intervention programme offers support and training across Te Toka Tumai. They are also available for case consultation between the hours of 8.00am and 4.30pm, Monday to Friday.
- Gateway health assessments for children in the care of Oranga Tamariki - Ministry for Children. For more information visit the Oranga Tamariki - Ministry for Children website: https://www.orangatamariki.govt.nz/