A union representing staff at youth justice residences says it fears someone could be killed at work unless Oranga Tamariki takes stronger action over violence at Te Puna Wai in Rolleston.

National Union of Public Employees Union Secretary Janice Gemmell said the official figures released to chrislynchmedia.com showing 57 assaults and 32 attempted assaults against staff over 12 months did not reflect the full scale of what workers were experiencing.

“We believe the true level of violence and risk is considerably higher than the bare figures recorded by OT,” Gemmell said.

“The violence and aggression experienced by staff includes threats and this is a daily occurrence at Te Puna Wai and the other Youth Justice residences, with staff frequently threatened or abused by young people across the residences with little or no consequences for such unacceptable behaviours.”

A former Te Puna Wai staff member previously told chrislynchmedia.com they left the residence because they feared “somebody will be seriously injured or worse”.

Gemmell said NUPE had repeatedly raised its concerns with senior Oranga Tamariki management and the Minister for Children.

“Such violence will not end until senior OT management take it seriously including real consequences for young people engaging in such violent behaviour,” she said.

“The union genuinely fears that someone could be killed at work and only then will real action occur.”

Gemmell said NUPE would seek accountability if a fatal incident occurred.

“Should such a tragedy occur, NUPE will ensure the employer and its senior management is held responsible including and up to private prosecution for manslaughter.”

Official information released to chrislynchmedia.com showed staff at Te Puna Wai were assaulted 57 times between 1 August 2025 and 31 July 2026, with 19 incidents causing injury.

There were another 32 attempted assaults during the same period.

Eighteen incidents were recorded as alleged assaults against staff, while another 39 occurred when staff were attempting to restrain a young person.

Gemmell said NUPE did not believe Youth Justice residences were safe for staff.

“While although three staff supervising 10 young people may occasionally be ok, in times of heightened aggression, three staff is completely insufficient,” she said.

“Bearing in mind staff must always work in pairs, an unruly resident necessitates and removes at least two of the three staff to manage, potentially including physical restraint, leaving one staff member to manage the remaining nine young people in the unit.”

“It is common for misbehaviour by one resident to trigger or initiate further group misbehaviour or disorder.”

Gemmell said staff had limited options when dealing with serious violent behaviour. “OT staff in the residences are not provided tools to manage serious high end behaviours except to verbally deescalate and engage physical restraint if necessary.”

She said the union was particularly concerned Oranga Tamariki had confirmed there was no mandatory staff to young person ratio at Te Puna Wai.

“NUPE has always understood and sought at least one staff to 2.5 young people, and greater staff numbers should the young person present with special or high risk needs,” Gemmell said.

Oranga Tamariki previously told chrislynchmedia.com staffing ratios were determined by operational needs and could change depending on the needs of the young people living at the residence.

Gemmell said “no Youth Justice residence in New Zealand at the moment could operate without the heavy reliance on overtime, shift extensions and casual employees,” she said.

“This is a significant concern for NUPE as staff when working a lot of overtime or extensions become fatigued, that is also when things can go wrong.”

She called on Oranga Tamariki to release figures showing the level of overtime, extended shifts and casual staffing being used.

“NUPE believes there is often insufficient support provided to staff by OT post assaults,” she said.

“Sadly, amazing staff leave because they are themselves assaulted or see their work mates assaulted, sometimes seriously injured.”

Oranga Tamariki previously said support following an assault could include first aid, medical treatment, financial and social support, help returning to work, psychological support and confidential counselling.

NUPE wants an immediate increase in deployable staff, more casual workers converted into permanent positions and senior managers required to work inside residential units.

“NUPE wants to see a policy that all young people will be charged by police after assaulting staff,” Gemmell said.

“Young people should be advised this will occur when they arrive at the residence.”

NUPE also wants Oranga Tamariki to cover legal defence costs for employees who face criminal allegations after incidents in which they were defending themselves or managing violent behaviour.