Children have given damning testimony in a new report into secure residential care.
Fifty-two children were interviewed for the report, released on Monday by the Office of the Children's Commissioner.
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The study concluded that facilities for vulnerable youth are unhappy places which are not fit for purpose.
"I found this report extremely difficult to read, and I think most New Zealanders would too," said Children's Commissioner Andrew Becroft.
"Children and young people have the right to have their views heard, considered and taken seriously. The voices of the children and young people contained in this report are insistent. They are distressing. We must take them seriously."
Becroft said the model being used in New Zealand is outdated.
"The modern model isn't congregation together in a concrete-like institution. What it is is small family-homes, with expert staff, with good access to health and education facilities [and] close to families."
Becroft says without proper access to health, children are suffering.
"They've been dumped into the care of Oranga Tamariki because of the failings of health and other Government services. We need better facilities for many of these 100 to 200 children in New Zealand that have very high and very complex needs."
The interviews took place between August 2017 and September 2018 with children aged nine to 17.
Newshub.
