Documents obtained by Newshub show key roles at Oranga Tamariki are set to be disestablished.
Roles at the ministry's international child protection team, which helped care for unaccompanied child refugees and investigate complex exploitation cases, face the axe.
Amnesty International and the Chief Children's Commissioner are both concerned such changes could impact New Zealand's ability to uphold United Nations obligations.
There were desperate scenes at Kabul International Airport in 2021, as the Taliban took over Afghanistan's capital.
Hundreds of Afghanis came to New Zealand on a New Zealand Defence Force plane, including 15 unaccompanied children.
Then in 2022, there was a complex investigation into the exploitation of Chinese child acrobats here as part of the travelling show Zirka Circus.
They were eventually uplifted and flown home to their parents.
The international child protection unit at Oranga Tamariki was involved with both events, but the unit now faces significant cuts.
"Before implementing any changes, the Government must consider their ability to meet human rights obligations here and overseas," said Lisa Woods, campaign director at Amnesty International.
Consultation documents obtained by Newshub show 17 advisory roles would be slashed to just six.
The role of General Manager for international casework would be disestablished, along with the manager of international child protection. The national management role would also go.
Oranga Tamariki proposed the separate national and international teams be "consolidated" into one team.
"The question should be 'what more could we be doing?' Not taking away," Woods told Newshub.
The Children's Commissioner, Dr Claire Achmad, said she's concerned cutting the international child protection unit could impact on New Zealand’s ability to do international child protection work.
"I am aware that this unit undertakes specialist, complex, cross-border child protection work. This includes working to support children who are, for example, stateless, trafficked, arrive in our country as unaccompanied minor refugees, and children who are in need of intercountry adoption."
She also said it may affect how we uphold our international obligations to the UN, and the child protection-focused Hague Conventions.
"I urge that upholding the rights and welfare of children are the central guiding factor in any final decisions."
The Labour Party has deep concerns.
"I think that our important work in this area to protect children is being compromised by the disestablishment of this unit," said Labour's spokesperson for children, Willow-Jean Prime.
Children's Minister Karen Chhour would not comment on the documents obtained except to say it's just a proposal.
"It's my expectation that the best interests of our children will be at the forefront of our decision making," Chhour told Newshub.
Oranga Tamariki has previously stated repeatedly that proposed cuts won't impact frontline staff.
Although Prime doesn't buy that explanation.
"Absolutely I would call them a front line team - this is not a back office job," said Prime.
The UN's Periodic Review of New Zealand, released on Monday, highlighted issues including trafficking, forced labour and migrant exploitation as areas needing attention.
