09/06/2026
FENCE v AMBULANCE - THE URGENT NEED FOR INTERVENTION
Big Brothers Big Sisters NZ Urges Community Mobilisation and Early Intervention Amid Growing Strain on Vulnerable Youth.
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND – Big Brothers Big Sisters of New Zealand (BBBSNZ) is responding with deep concern to the frontline accounts shared in the recent Stuff article, "Police and social workers raise alarm about mayhem and government cuts hitting kids." As an organisation dedicated to supporting tamariki and rangatahi across Aotearoa through mentoring, BBBSNZ believes these warnings from social service agencies highlight a critical need to bolster community-led, preventative interventions.
The report highlights a distressing reality: a spike in complex social challenges confronting young people at a time when systemic public sector adjustments risk stretching statutory lifelines to their limits.
"When statutory social services and police are operating at capacity, the burden of care falls heavily on communities," says Drew Ewan, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters NZ. What frontline teams are seeing is the manifestation of isolation, trauma, and a lack of positive foundational support. We cannot wait until a young person encounters the justice system or statutory crisis intervention before we step in. BBBSNZ already has 500 children on the waitlist across 13 branches waiting to be matched with a mentor, and these recent government cuts are likely to see demand increase to even more overwhelming numbers of tamariki needing support.
BBBSNZ emphasizes that early intervention through structured, consistent mentoring is one of the most effective ways to build resilience in young people before they hit crisis points. Evidence consistently shows that a stable, positive relationship with an adult mentor drastically reduces a young person's likelihood of engaging in anti-social behaviour, experiencing severe mental health distress, or becoming disengaged from education.
As national public funding landscapes shift, BBBSNZ urges corporate partners, local councils, and community philanthropists to recognize the strategic value of funding preventative, grassroots youth support and development.
"We are seeing a growing demand across our regional branches for mentors, and our coordinators are working tirelessly to match vulnerable tamariki with positive role models," Ewan adds. "Now more than ever, we need the collective strength of New Zealanders. If the formal systems are tightening, our informal, relationship-based support networks must expand to catch these young people before they fall."
Big Brothers Big Sisters NZ stands ready to collaborate with local communities, schools, and social agencies to ensure that Kiwi kids are not left behind during periods of structural transition. The organisation calls on individuals who can dedicate just one hour, once a week, to step forward as mentors and directly change the trajectory of a young life.
About Big Brothers Big Sisters of New Zealand:
Big Brothers Big Sisters of New Zealand is a registered nationwide charity providing managed, high-impact mentoring relationships to tamariki and rangatahi facing adversity. By matching young people with safe, positive adult role models, BBBSNZ aims to unlock their full potential and foster long-term community resilience.
Police officers, social workers and Oranga Tamariki’s own staff are raising red flags about how the Government is funding youth services.
