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.
Child Poverty in NZ
This section features two projects focused on the issue of child poverty in New Zealand.
The report, A Fair Go for all Children, Actions to address child poverty in New Zealand, is an analytical look at the extent and characteristics of child poverty in New Zealand and what can be done about it. You will find the report here.
You are also invited to explore the issue by visiting our photovoice project This is how I see it: children and young people’s views and experiences of child poverty, an online gallery which shares children and young people’s descriptions of poverty and how it impacts on their lives and communities. You will find the gallery here.
For media enquiries visit the media releases page. If you would like to provide the Office of the Children's Commissioner with feedback on this work, please go through the Contact Us page.
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 John Angus as Children’s Commissioner on 2 May 2009. The appointment is until December 2010.
For nearly 30 years John has led policy work on child support, the care and protection of children and support for vulnerable families. In his role as Children’s Commissioner, John will continue this commitment ensuring every child has access to the resources and opportunities they need for their successful development.
John has identified six priority areas of work for the Office this financial year. These include work on ensuring quality services for children in care; preventing child abuse and neglect; advocating for the interests of the one-third of New Zealand’s children who live in Auckland as it changes to a “super city”; looking at the best interests of children in early childhood care and education; child poverty; and promoting children’s participation in decision making and other processes that affect them.