Hon Karen Chhour is the Minister for Children and for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence. Karen grew up interacting with the state care system, and was elected to Parliament as an ACT Party MP in 2020 with the goal of reforming Oranga Tamariki. Before politics, Karen was self-employed in the New Zealand-made clothing industry. She is a mother of four and has lived on Auckland's North Shore for the past 30 years.
Latest Press Releases
7AA of OT Act should be scrapped
14 June, 2022
“Oranga Tamariki (OT) will remain ungovernable and continue to fail children unless it’s allowed to focus on the one thing it was established to do, ensure the wellbeing of children,” says ACT’s Social Development and Children spokesperson Karen Chhour....
ACT attempts to fix broken Oranga Tamariki Bill
14 September, 2022
“ACT has proposed a series of common-sense amendments to Labour’s derided Oranga Tamariki Oversight Bill, aiming to improve the legislation so that it works for the vulnerable kids who should be at the centre of this law-making process,” says ACT’s Social Development spokesperson Karen Chhour.
ACT MP calls out hate speech against Karens
14 June, 2022
ACT MP Karen Chhour is calling on Jacinda Ardern to explain whether she is “stirring up, maintaining or normalising hatred by insulting, threatening or abusive communication” which would be captured under the Government’s hate speech laws....
ACT supports brave opposition to OT Bill
03 August, 2022
“ACT was proud to stand alongside youth advocate for young people in care Ihorangi Reweti-Peters as he outlined his opposition to the Oranga Tamariki Oversight Bill at Parliament today,” says ACT’s Social Development spokesperson Karen Chhour....
ACT will protect gang children
14 June, 2022
“ACT will ensure the children of gang members are less likely to suffer neglect by requiring gang members who receive a benefit to undergo Electronic Income Management,” says ACT’s Social Development spokesperson Karen Chhour....
An end to custody based on race? We hear ya!
24 January, 2023
“The ACT Party would ensure that the safety and wellbeing of a child is the paramount consideration of Oranga Tamariki, instead of making decisions based on race,” says ACT’s Children’s spokesperson Karen Chhour.
Another damning report, more silence from Kelvin
01 February, 2023
“In the wake of yet another damning report into Oranga Tamariki, there’s still nothing to suggest Children’s Minister Kelvin Davis is taking the many issues within his department seriously,” says ACT’s Children Spokesperson Karen Chhour.
Benefit dependency stubborn under Labour
19 January, 2023
“Today’s quarterly benefit numbers show that despite businesses crying out for more workers, benefit dependency remains stubbornly high under Labour,” says ACT’s Social Development spokesperson Karen Chhour.
Benefit increases a slap in the face to Kiwi Battlers
14 June, 2022
“It’s an insult to middle New Zealanders who are working hard to get ahead but being squeezed in every direction to increase benefits today,” says ACT’s Social Development spokesperson Karen Chhour....
Carmel Sepuloni punishes future generations with benefit rise
14 June, 2022
“Carmel Sepuloni seems intent on punishing future generations with her plans to raise benefits by a further $57 a week by 2023,” says ACT’s Social Development spokesperson Karen Chhour....
Check your database, WINZ
03 August, 2022
“If Work and Income has a database of 106,000 people who claim to be ‘work ready’ why is it advertising on the radio and Facebook for people to fill jobs?” asks ACT’s Social Development spokesperson Karen Chhour....
Childrens Commissioner highlights issues with OT Oversight Bill
13 September, 2022
“ACT supports the Children’s Commissioner objections to the Oranga Tamariki Oversight Bill rammed through by Labour this week,” says ACT’s Social development spokesperson Karen Chhour.
Culture of welfare dependency taking hold
14 June, 2022
“Today’s quarterly benefit numbers show Labour is slowing down our economy by entrenching New Zealanders into the welfare system,” says ACT’s Welfare spokesperson Karen Chhour....
Damning review shows lack of leadership at OT
14 June, 2022
“Another damning review of Oranga Tamariki, this time around the mismanagement of a $60m sexual abuse programme, shows that Kelvin Davis is asleep at the wheel and failing our most vulnerable New Zealanders,” says ACT’s Children spokesperson Karen Chhour....
Davis hiding behind report
10 October, 2022
“Kelvin Davis has proved this morning on Newshub Nation that he’s not up to the job as Children’s Minister,” says ACT’s Children’s spokesperson Karen Chhour.
Davis should apologise for arrogant “grizzling” comment
14 June, 2022
“Children’s Minister Kelvin Davis has refused to apologise for saying people who submitted to a select committee were just “grizzling,” says ACT’s Children’s spokesperson Karen Chhour....
Equivalent of Christchurch population on a benefit
20 October, 2022
“Labour’s policies designed to entrench people on welfare have well and truly bedded in,” says ACT’s Social Development spokesperson Karen Chhour.
Free Press, 27 September 2021
14 June, 2022
ACT’s caucus had a good week. Karen Chhour appeared on TVNZ’s Q+A to make a very simple point. The safety and welfare of children should come before cultural considerations when they are placed in care. That nobody else is saying...
Government turning a blind eye to benefit fraud
03 August, 2022
“Data from the Ministry for Social Development shows that they’ve all but given up on prosecuting people for benefit fraud,” says ACT’s Social Development spokesperson Karen Chhour....
Govt not on track to transform child poverty
14 June, 2022
“The Government is not on track to halve child poverty within 10 years of targets it set in 2019,” says ACT Social Development spokesperson Karen Chhour....
Greens the biggest barrier to better housing
14 June, 2022
“If Greens co-leader Marama Davidson wants to know why people are in emergency housing she should hold up a mirror,” says ACT’s Social Development spokesperson Karen Chhour....
Hardship payments up 18 per cent
20 October, 2022
“Labour’s cost of living crisis is hitting our most vulnerable New Zealanders with the amount paid out for hardship up 18 per cent over the past year,” says ACT’s Social Development spokesperson Karen Chhour.
High Court backs up ACT bill
09 November, 2022
“The High Court decision on the “Moana case” released today reflects the sort of changes that ACT is proposing to Oranga Tamariki,” says ACT’s Children’s spokesperson Karen Chhour.
Higher salaries but worse outcomes for kids
02 December, 2022
“The salaries for senior staff at Oranga Tamariki have increased by 55 per cent in the past five years but we’re not seeing improved results for children in need,” says ACT’s Children spokesperson Karen Chhour.
Income insurance plan misses the mark
14 June, 2022
“Labour’s income insurance plan will hurt productivity and make welfare dependency even worse”, says ACT Welfare spokesperson Karen Chhour.
Independent Judiciary crucial for New Zealand
14 June, 2022
“The Judicial Conduct Commissioner needs to become involved in a case where the Acting Head of Oranga Tamariki and two judges became inappropriately involved in a case,” says ACT’s Children spokesperson Karen Chhour....
Jackson perpetuates victimhood mentality
14 June, 2022
“Willie Jackson’s inflammatory comments about racism will only perpetuate a victimhood mentality,” says ACT’s Social Development and Children Spokesperson Karen Chhour....
Kelvin Davis is overseeing the indefensible
14 June, 2022
“Kelvin Davis has today told the Social Services Select Committee that he’s “not here to defend the indefensible” when it comes to Oranga Tamariki. He needs to accept that he’s the one who’s in charge of the indefensible,” says ACT’s...
Kelvin Davis resorts to personal attacks while OT fails most vulnerable
28 September, 2022
“It is no wonder that Oranga Tamariki is being threatened with strikes and has contractors under investigation when Minister for Children Kelvin Davis has to resort to race-based name-calling when questioned about the issues,” says ACT’s Children spokesperson Karen Chhour.
Labour entrenching welfare dependency with benefit increases
14 June, 2022
“The Government is increasing dependency on welfare with increases to the benefit while businesses struggle to get ahead and employ more people,” says ACT’s Social Development spokesperson Karen Chhour....
Labour going soft on welfare and making life harder for employers
03 August, 2022
"How is it possible that MSD has been unable to shift tens of thousands of beneficiaries into work when employers are screaming out for workers?” Asks ACT’s Social Development spokesperson Karen Chhour."We have an historical labour shortage. MSD has 100,000...
Labour’s disdain for hard working New Zealanders
14 June, 2022
“Kiwis are being left to rot on welfare because of Labour’s low expectations for beneficiaries”, says ACT’s Social Development spokesperson Karen Chhour....
Long term benefit numbers will keep climbing under Labour
14 June, 2022
“As long as the Government has its hands over its ears screaming “la la la” about benefit numbers, they will keep rising,” says ACT’s Social Development spokesperson Karen Chhour....
Low nicotine ciggies will drive up poverty
14 June, 2022
“New Zealand smokers will who can least afford it will spend more on their habit and in turn do harm to those around them if the Government mandates lower nicotine in tobacco,” says ACT Social Development and Children spokesperson Karen...
Marama Davidson not across her portfolio
14 June, 2022
“Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence Minister Marama Davidson’s performance in Question Time today shows she has no idea what’s happening in her portfolio,” says ACT’s Social Development spokesperson Karen Chhour....
Minister needs to act or go
14 June, 2022
“While tragic reports of sexual and family violence in emergency and transitional housing are occurring, the Minister responsible for both portfolios is disgracefully trying to pass the buck instead of addressing the issue,” says ACT’s Social Development spokesperson Karen Chhour....
‘Moana’ case should be about what is best for the child
07 December, 2022
“The decision to incite Section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act to take the ‘Moana case’ to the Supreme Court shows why the legislation must be changed,” says ACT’s Children’s spokesperson Karen Chhour.
MSD knowingly spent misappropriated money for three years
07 December, 2022
“Today in the Social Services Select Committee it was revealed that the Ministry for Social Development has spent $5.907m of misappropriated spending on accommodation assistance in the past five years, what’s worse is that they knew about it for three years and did nothing,” says ACT’s Social Development spokesperson Karen
Nanny state prohibition will create black market
14 June, 2022
“The Government’s gradual ban on all tobacco sales is prohibition plain and simple and it will eventually create a black market”, says ACT Social Development and Children spokesperson Karen Chhour....
Oranga Tamariki must do better
24 November, 2022
“Vulnerable New Zealanders are continuing to be failed by Oranga Tamariki, with abuse complainants being left for two years with no resolution to their complaints,” says ACT’s Children spokesperson Karen Chhour.
Oranga Tamariki should be colour blind
14 June, 2022
“The treatment of our most vulnerable children at Oranga Tamariki has been a national disgrace but the answer is not to divide us further,” says ACT’s Children spokesperson Karen Chhour....
Passing of OT Bill a disgrace
14 September, 2022
“Labour’s determination to pass their broken Oranga Tamariki Oversight Bill, despite enormous opposition from those who it affects most, is a disappointing outcome for the vulnerable children who should be at the centre of this law-making process,” says ACT’s Social Development spokesperson Karen Chhour.
Putting children at the centre of Oranga Tamariki
14 June, 2022
“The ACT Party wants to make sure the wellbeing of the child is the paramount consideration of Oranga Tamariki and is suggesting changes to the law,” says ACT MP Karen Chhour....
Putting children at the centre of Oranga Tamariki
22 September, 2022
“My Member’s Bill which was drawn from the Ballot today seeks to ensure that the wellbeing of the child is the paramount consideration of Oranga Tamariki," says ACT MP Karen Chhour.
Questions raised by Oranga Tamariki employment
03 August, 2022
“Further revelations on 1News tonight show the poor process that has been followed at Oranga Tamariki in employing Mathew Tukaki, and raise questions about why the Government continues employing him,” says ACT’s Children spokesperson Karen Chhour....
Report shows OT Bill has to go
03 August, 2022
"A report released this morning about the Oranga Tamariki Oversight Bill backs up the concerns of every submitter on the legislation,” says ACT Children’s spokesperson Karen Chhour....
Reversing Labour’s divisive laws
10 October, 2022
“ACT in Government will reverse the harmful laws introduced by Labour that divide New Zealanders by race,” says ACT’s Social Development spokesperson Karen Chhour.
Review confirms Oranga Tamariki negligence must stop now
01 December, 2022
“Oranga Tamariki has had so many damning reviews and apologised so many times it is becoming meaningless, there needs to be real change to ensure incidents like the one that occurred with Malachi never happen again,” says ACT’s Social Development spokesperson Karen Chhour.
Sepuloni, takes ACT’s OT initiative but not far enough, ignores vigil
04 August, 2022
“Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni has taken inspiration from my proposed amendments on the Oversight of Oranga Tamariki System and Children and Young People’s Commission Bill, but she hasn’t taken it far enough,” says ACT’s Social Development spokesperson Karen Chhour.
Unemployment rate actually 6 per cent
14 June, 2022
“Grant Robertson is in full self-congratulation mode over today’s employment numbers, but the real unemployment rate is at least 6 per cent,” says ACT’s Welfare spokesperson Karen Chhour....
Vulnerable New Zealanders continue to be let down by Labour
25 August, 2022
“If we’re to create a better future for vulnerable children, we need greater leadership from the Minister for Children who is not across the issue,” says ACT’s Social Development spokesperson Karen Chhour.
Wake up and listen, Minister Sepuloni
04 August, 2022
“Minister Sepuloni needs to put her ego to one side and start listening to the overwhelming feedback being delivered on the Oranga Tamariki Oversight Bill,” says ACT’s Social Development spokesperson Karen Chhour.
We Should Be Free To Say Mothers Matter
14 June, 2022
“There is little hope for New Zealand’s children if the Advertising Standards Authority won’t let us have honest conversations about maternal mental health,” says ACT’s Children’s Spokesperson Karen Chhour in response to the Advertising Standards Authority banning the Mothers Matter...
Welfare now a lifestyle choice
14 June, 2022
“The Prime Minister will leave a legacy of dependency by making welfare more attractive than work and sadly she’s proud of it,” says ACT’s Social Development Spokesperson Karen Chhour....
Won’t somebody please think of the children?
14 June, 2022
“The Waitangi Tribunal has completely missed the point with its review into Oranga Tamariki,” says ACT’s spokesperson for Children Karen Chhour....
Working instead of welfare? We hear ya!
11 January, 2023
“There are 170,037 New Zealanders on Jobseeker Support, with 98,934 of them classified as work-ready when businesses are crying out for labour. There should be no excuse for them to turn down suitable work,” says ACT’s Social Development spokesperson Karen Chhour.
Davidson using victims to score cheap political points
28 March, 2023
“Marama Davidson should apologise to the victims of family and sexual violence for trying to score cheap political points from their trauma”, says ACT MP Karen Chhour.
Ardern’s legacy is welfare dependency
23 March, 2023
“Jacinda Ardern’s legacy will be more children growing up in welfare-dependent households with no significant reduction in child poverty,” says ACT’s Social Development spokesperson Karen Chhour.
Sepuloni should be ashamed of welfare numbers
22 March, 2023
“There are 40,000 more Kiwis reliant on main benefits than when Labour took office. The Government shouldn’t be bragging about welfare numbers, it should be ashamed,” says ACT’s Social Development spokesperson Karen Chhour.
‘Moana’ caregivers bullied by bureaucrats into giving up
20 March, 2023
“Today’s sad news that ‘Moana’ will be returning to state care shows just how broken the system is. Her caregivers have been bullied by bureaucrats into giving up the child they loved and cared for because of their race,” says ACT’s Children spokesperson Karen Chhour.
Massive benefit numbers the new normal under Labour
20 April, 2023
“What was once sold as a COVID-19 increase to beneficiary numbers has become the new normal,” says ACT’s Social Development spokesperson Karen Chhour.
One in five kids in benefit dependent households
22 April, 2023
“This year’s Salvation Army State of the Nation report shows that there are 208,900 kids living in benefit-dependent households, 30,000 more than when Labour took office,” says ACT’s Social Development spokesperson Karen Chhour.
A campaign to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act has hit 10,000 signatures.
23 May, 2023
“Children are being taken out of safe, loving foster homes because their foster parents are the ‘wrong’ race”, says ACT Spokesperson for Children Karen Chhour.
Real Change Now Speech: Karen Chhour
06 June, 2023
Speech: Karen Chhour
Real Change Now, SkyCity Theatre, 4 June 2023
Two years of paid leave for OT staff
27 June, 2023
“Two years after the Te Oranga youth facility closed its doors amid controversy and an investigation was opened, Oranga Tamariki staff are still on paid leave courtesy of the taxpayer,” says ACT’s Children spokesperson Karen Chhour.
OT staff responsible for increasing harm
29 June, 2023
“Even though the number of children in Oranga Tamariki care is decreasing, the number of incidents where Oranga Tamariki staff are causing harm to them is increasing. Something is rotten in Oranga Tamariki and needs to change,” says ACT’s Children spokesperson Karen Chhour.
Davis can’t hide behind reviews
10 July, 2023
“It was the same old story from Kelvin Davis on Newshub Nation this morning, hiding behind yet another Oranga Tamariki review instead of taking action,” says ACT’s Children spokesperson Karen Chhour.
Labour refuses to put children first
26 July, 2023
“Tonight Labour has shown they value separating people by race more than ensuring New Zealand children have the best possible chance of living in a safe and loving foster home,” says ACT’s Children spokesperson Karen Chhour.
Royal Commission report drives home need for real change in the way we care for children
02 August, 2023
“Today’s report from the Abuse in Care Royal Commission is difficult reading, but it highlights the importance of fixing the institutions that care for our young people,” says ACT’s Spokesperson for Children Karen Chhour.
Kelvin Davis says ‘not my problem’
31 August, 2023
“Children’s Minister Kelvin Davis has no timeline for when the Oranga Tamariki review into the organisation’s youth justice facilities will be completed, and he can’t even be bothered asking,” says ACT’s Children’s spokesperson Karen Chhour.
Welfare needs a values shift
26 September, 2023
“Welfare dependency has grown massively in New Zealand, there needs to be a rebalancing back towards obligations. The benefit is there to get people back on their feet, not to rely on,” says ACT’s Social Development spokesperson Karen Chhour.
$1,100 of KFC and Maccas for escapees a failure of values
11 October, 2023
“What sort of values does it teach when the Government buys youth justice escapees over $1100 worth of fast food for assaulting staff and breaking out? We need to be teaching the values of right and wrong. Not rewarding people for causing chaos,” says ACT’s Children spokesperson Karen Chhour.
Taxpayer-funded job search platform more evidence of why ACT is needed
13 October, 2023
“News that the Government is spending more than $36 million on a job search platform for beneficiaries shows why ACT is needed to bring to government accountability for taxpayers,” says ACT’s Social Development spokesperson Karen Chhour.