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Our vision
The interests and rights of every child and young person are recognised and each enjoys safety and security, good health and education, economic and sociocultural well-being and opportunities to actively participate in matters that affect them.
ABOUT THIS SITE...
This website provides information about the Office of the Children’s Commissioner’s work and about children’s and young people's rights.
The children's and young people's spaces provide child- and youth-friendly introductions to children's and young people's rights.
The advice section can help solve problems or answer questions about the rights, interests, and welfare of children and young people.
You can access the Children's Commissioner's media releases, speeches, and public submissions here.
You can download and order publications from the Office of the Children's Commissioner online.
We welcome advice or feedback on ways to improve this website.
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The Green Paper for Vulnerable Children - Every child thrives, belongs, achieves
Ka whai oranga, ka whai wahi, ka whai taumata ia Tamaiti
Click on the image to visit the Green Paper web page.
What can you do?
Let the Government know what you think by making a submission before 28 February 2012.
Download the full Green Paper here.
You can make a submission online, on the Facebook page, in person at hui or fono, by email to yourresponse@childrensactionplan.govt.nz, or posting your submission to:
Green Paper for Vulnerable Children
PO Box 1556
Wellington 6145
What's New...
'Children' Summer 2011: Children and Poverty - moving beyond the rhetoric (1.6 MB)
Newsletter posted on 23 December 2011
Report into abuse of nine-year-old girl (44.9 KB)
Media Release posted on 21 December 2011
Creating a child friendly Auckland (4.1 MB)
Speech posted on 9 December 2011
Green Paper on Vulnerable Children Position Paper (146.8 KB)
Publication posted on 1 December 2011
What can you do if you suspect child abuse or neglect?
If you need to contact someone urgently because of your immediate concern about the safety of a child, then please phone:
Police
111
www.police.govt.nz
or
Child Youth and Family Services
0508 FAMILY (0508 326 459)
www.cyf.govt.nz
Children’s Commissioner
The Governor-General appointed Dr Russell Wills as Children’s Commissioner on 1 July 2011.
Dr Wills has spent many years at the frontline of child health and protection. Prior to taking on the role as Commissioner, Dr Wills was Head of Paediatrics at the Hawke’s Bay DHB, where he was clinical leader for child and adolescent health, family violence and child protection. He will continue to work part-time as a general and community paediatrician at the DHB while carrying out his role as Children’s Commissioner, also on a part-time basis. Previous roles include National Paediatrician for the Royal New Zealand Plunket Society, Royal Australasian College of Physicians Fellow and Senior Lecturer, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health at the Wellington School of Medicine. He has also led research into B4 School health checks evaluation, family violence intervention and Child, Youth and Family foster care support. Dr Wills has been appointed for a five-year term as Children’s Commissioner.