A Christchurch school principal says Child, Youth and Family is dropping the ball by failing vulnerable children in the city.
Gerard Direen from Linwood Avenue Primary School says one of his pupils who is nine years old has been in nine different foster homes in the past three weeks.
Mr Direen told Radio New Zealand's Nine to Noon programme that CYF needs to develop residential facilities in Christchurch to provide routine and support for children in need.
He said the agency has failed to put sufficient resources into the region since recent earthquakes.
CYF says it has a limited number of foster carers in Christchurch for young people with high needs.
