Twenty-one children have been charged with crimes, including aggravated robbery, while in state care in Te Tai Tokerau in one year.
Figures released to the Northern Advocate under the Official Information Act show there were 493 children and young people in the care of Oranga Tamariki in Te Tai Tokerau during the 2017/18 year.
Of those, Oranga Tamariki said, 31 were subject to a Youth Justice referral and 21 were charged with one or more offence. Oranga Tamariki would not reveal what the charges were, saying it would take too much time and effort to find this out.
''While we are able to report on the number of children/young people who are apprehended or charged, it is not possible to provide you with a breakdown of those charges. This information is contained in the file notes for each child charged,'' said Steve Groom, Oranga Tamariki general manager, Public, Ministerial and Executive Services.
''While we do record this information, to provide it to you would requires to manually review the file notes of all children/young people charged with an offence.