This case concerns a social worker, Carrie Anne Matkovich, who wrote an unauthorised character reference for a client, misled the Department of Corrections into believing a course existed when it did not, and used that false information to obtain repeated exceptions to the client’s electronically monitored bail conditions. The social worker was engaging with individuals… Read more »

This case concerns the ongoing obligation for social workers to act honestly and ethically. The case concerns a social worker, Dr Jacquelyn Elkington, who was charged after purporting to issue a COVID-19 vaccine exemption when she had no authority to do so, representing herself as qualified to issue it. Furthermore, she failed to disclose an… Read more »

This case is published as a learning opportunity for social workers, with a particular focus on the obligations that attach to the social work role in school and youth-facing settings. It concerns the conduct of an experienced social worker employed at a school who engaged in seriously inappropriate boundary-crossing communications with a Year 12 student… Read more »

We were delighted to welcome Professor Ron Paterson (Ngāti Raukawa and Scottish whakapapa) to the SWRB office recently for a conversation about regulatory practice and what good regulation looks like in action. Professor Paterson brings a remarkable depth of experience to these questions. As a former Health and Disability Commissioner, the author of The Good… Read more »

Ko Panekire te maunga Ko Waikaremoana te wai kaukau o ōku tupuna Ko Ngai Tūhoe me Ngāti Ruapani ki Waikaremoana ōku iwi Ko Marcia Ranginui Charlton ahau  For Marcia, social work has never been about fixing people or directing their lives. It is about walking alongside, showing up, staying present, and honouring the mana of those she works with. Marcia is one of a growing number of social entrepreneur social workers who have established community… Read more »

Emily Ranginui, social worker Ki te taha o tōku pāpā,Ko Mataatua te wakaKo Panekire te maungaKo Waikare te moanaKo Ngāi Tūhoe me Ngāti Ruapani kiWaikaremoana ōku iwiKo Ngāti Hinekura te hapūKo Te Kuha Tarewa me Te Waimako ngā maraeHoianō e noho ana ki te taha o Waikato awa,ki raro i te maro o Taupiri Maunga,… Read more »

The SWRB’s 2024/25 Annual Report is now available on our website. As a Crown entity mainly funded through your fees and levy, we’re committed to transparency and accountability to both the profession and the public. The report provides a comprehensive picture of our regulatory and workforce planning performance, including how we performed against our targets… Read more »

This report provides unique insights into the social worker workforce in Aotearoa New Zealand. We are fortunate to have such rich information shared by practicing social workers who completed the annual workforce survey as they renewed their practising certificates between May and July 2025. A huge thank you to all participants. Your responses provide invaluable insights into the composition of… Read more »

Why Trust Matters Social workers are there for people during some of life’s toughest moments—supporting children, families, the elderly, and others facing hardship. But for that support to work, people need to trust the person helping them. It has been shown that professions with higher public trust have more positive outcomes, and are better placed… Read more »