Office of the Children's Commissioner - Latest News [Page 2]
Bill To Establish New Children And Young People’s Commission A “huge Opportunity”
Thursday, 11 November 2021, 4:19 pm | Office of the Children's Commissioner
Legislation paving the way for a Children and Young People’s Commission is a huge opportunity to improve outcomes for all tamariki mokopuna, Children’s Commissioner Judge Frances Eivers says. The Oversight of the Oranga Tamariki System and Children ... More >>
Family Support Increases A Start, But More Is Needed
Saturday, 6 November 2021, 2:42 pm | Office of the Children's Commissioner
Small increases in family support announced today are a welcome step, but much more is needed to make a significant change for children and whānau, Children’s Commissioner Judge Frances Eivers says. The Government today announced small increases to the ... More >>
Making Aotearoa / New Zealand The Best Place To Be A Child
Friday, 22 October 2021, 3:11 pm | Office of the Children's Commissioner
In the third of Judge Andrew Becroft’s five addresses reflecting on his time as Children’s Commissioner, he examines five ways we can significantly improve wellbeing for children and young people in Aotearoa / New Zealand. “We are fortunate”, ... More >>
Our Care And Protection System Has Failed – It Needs Nothing Less Than Radical Transformation
Tuesday, 19 October 2021, 7:15 pm | Office of the Children's Commissioner
In the second of Judge Andrew Becroft’s five addresses reflecting on his time as Children’s Commissioner, he argues that tinkering with our care and protection system over the last three decades has failed our children and young people. He believes ... More >>
Some Stark Injustices In Our Youth Justice System Need Fixing - And Here's How
Wednesday, 13 October 2021, 2:07 pm | Office of the Children's Commissioner
Some stark injustices in our youth justice system need fixing – and here’s how. In the first of a series of five addresses reflecting on his time as Children’s Commissioner, Judge Andrew Becroft identifies some stark injustices in our youth ... More >>
The Time Has Come For 16 Year Olds To Get The Vote
Tuesday, 5 October 2021, 4:00 pm | Office of the Children's Commissioner
The Children's Commissioner is welcoming the Government's review into our election laws as the perfect opportunity to extend the right to vote to 16 and 17 year olds. The Government announced today that it would be conducting a comprehensive review ... More >>
Transformation Of OT Can’t Come Soon Enough
Wednesday, 29 September 2021, 10:56 am | Office of the Children's Commissioner
The Government’s commitment to “transform” a dysfunctional Oranga Tamariki is welcome and change must be concrete and urgent for children who need help now, the Children’s Commissioner and Assistant Māori Commissioner say. “Today’s ... More >>
Mortality Report “a Call To Prioritise Children’s Wellbeing”
Monday, 27 September 2021, 4:14 pm | Office of the Children's Commissioner
Aotearoa New Zealand must ask if the lives of children and young people are being systemically undervalued, as mortality statistics show high numbers of rangatahi drying by suicide, and pēpi of SUDI, the Children’s Commissioner and Assistant ... More >>
Commissioners welcome vaccines for young rangatahi
Thursday, 19 August 2021, 3:46 pm | Office of the Children's Commissioner
Children’s Commissioner Andrew Becroft welcomes the Government’s announcement today that the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine will be available for children and young people aged 12 to 15 years. More >>
Returning Children Must Be Protected And Embraced
Monday, 26 July 2021, 12:33 pm | Office of the Children's Commissioner
Children’s Commissioner Andrew Becroft is urging the public and media to respect the privacy and wellbeing of the children returning with their mother from Turkey, following the Governments’ announcement today. “I am proud that New Zealand has ... More >>
Decision To Close Residences Strongly Welcomed
Thursday, 1 July 2021, 1:32 pm | Office of the Children's Commissioner
The Children’s Commissioner and Assistant Māori Commissioner are welcoming, and relieved by, the decision of Oranga Tamariki to commit to the phased closure of Care and Protection institutional residences. “This could not come quickly enough. At ... More >>
All Tamariki Deserve The Best ECE And Childcare
Friday, 18 June 2021, 12:16 pm | Office of the Children's Commissioner
Children with the most to gain from quality early childhood education (ECE) risk missing out as a report finds Aotearoa has some of the most expensive childcare in the world, Children’s Commissioner Andrew Becroft says. UNICEF today released is More >>
Office Of The Children's Commissioner Mourns Passing Of Sir Ian Hassall
Wednesday, 16 June 2021, 12:54 pm | Office of the Children's Commissioner
The Commissioner, Assistant Māori Commissioner and all the staff of the Office of the Children’s’ Commissioner mourns the passing of Dr Sir Ian Hassall – the first person appointed Children’s Commissioner for Aotearoa New Zealand. Sir ... More >>
Housing Deprivation Requires Urgent Action
Wednesday, 2 June 2021, 12:05 pm | Office of the Children's Commissioner
A survey showing nearly a third of secondary students in northern New Zealand experience housing deprivation shows the need to urgently review the accommodation supplement and increase the Family Tax Credit, Children’s Commissioner Andrew Becroft says. ... More >>
End To Some Handcuffing Of Mums Welcomed
Monday, 17 May 2021, 4:44 pm | Office of the Children's Commissioner
Today’s announcement by Corrections to end the handcuffing of women in late pregnancy and after birth is a good first step to putting the wellbeing of mothers and babies first, Assistant Māori Commissioner for Children Glenis Philip-Barbara says. Corrections ... More >>
Tribunal Findings Must Spur Changes For Mokopuna Māori
Saturday, 1 May 2021, 5:43 am | Office of the Children's Commissioner
30 April 2021 The Children’s Commissioner and Assistant Māori Commissioner strongly welcome the Waitangi Tribunal’s call for a by Māori, for Māori approach to care and protection of mokopuna Māori following its Oranga Tamariki Urgent Inquiry. The ... More >>
Big, Bold Action Needed To Continue Gains For Children
Tuesday, 23 February 2021, 10:55 am | Office of the Children's Commissioner
Bold action will be needed on incomes and housing if the Government wants to continue making progress on child poverty and material hardship, Children’s Commissioner Judge Andrew Becroft said today. Stats NZ released the latest child poverty statistics ... More >>
Advisory Board Welcomed As Step Toward A By Māori For Māori Approach For Care And Protection
Wednesday, 27 January 2021, 10:31 am | Office of the Children's Commissioner
The appointment of an advisory board for Oranga Tamariki is welcome and should be a step toward a total transformation of the care and protection system to a by Māori, for Māori approach, Children’s Commissioner Andrew Becroft said today. Minister ... More >>
Comment On Resignation Of Grainne Moss
Friday, 22 January 2021, 11:47 am | Office of the Children's Commissioner
Children’s Commissioner Andrew Becroft acknowledges the huge effort and commitment of departing Oranga Tamariki Chief Executive Grainne Moss and says her decision to resign today was principled. “The issues facing Oranga Tamariki are beyond individual ... More >>
Royal Commission Report Shows Need For Closure Of Large Residences
Wednesday, 16 December 2020, 4:04 pm | Office of the Children's Commissioner
The devastating interim report of the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care reinforces the call for the phased closure of New Zealand’s large care and protection residences, and the eventual abolition of the four youth justice detention centres, Assistant ... More >>