Oranga Tamariki chief executive Chappie Te Kani. Photo: Supplied / Public Service Commission
Chappie Te Kani has been appointed as Oranga Tamariki's chief executive for three years.
Te Kani has been acting in the role since October last year.
Deputy Public Service Commissioner Helene Quilter QSO said Te Kani was well equipped to lead the agency as it rebuilt trust in the care system.
Te Kani was also committed to implementing the recommendations from recent reviews of family harm incidents, Quilter said.
Te Kani has also been appointed as the agency's secretary for children, who is responsible for ensuring the agency has a fit-for-purpose culture and that decisions and solutions are developed with regions, communities, whānau and iwi.
While in the acting role, he established a new leadership team, developed and progressed initiatives under the Oranga Tamariki Future Direction Action Plan, and led the development of the first joint children's agencies' Oranga Tamariki Action Plan
Prior to his Oranga Tamariki role, Te Kani was head of system assurance and continuous improvement for the Covid-19 response at the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.
For seven years (2006 to 2013), he was deputy secretary of treaty negotiations at the Ministry for the Environment.
Te Kani holds a Bachelor of Arts from Victoria University of Wellington and a Post-graduate Diploma in Business Administration from Massey University.
