Children's Commissioner Act 2003
Encyclopedia
The Children's Commissioner Act 2003 (Public Act no 121 2003) is an Act of the New Zealand Parliament. It reformed the office of the Children's Commissioner and implemented the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which is attached as schedule three of the act.
Prior to the act Children's Commissioners were established under the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1989
.
The Children's Commissioner, an office equivalent to that known in other countries as the Children's Ombudsman
, conducts investigations as to whether the rights or welfare of a child or children have been prejudiced. The investigations can cover almost anything, except courts or tribunals, their actions and their decisions. The Commission has the power to require information or documentation as part of their investigation, but this appears to be rarely used.
Holders of the office have been of differing opinions on the controversy over the autopsy images of Ngatikaura Ngati
.
Dr Russell Wills is a Hastings
-based paediatrician who was Head of Paediatrics at Hawke's Bay
District Health Board before his appointment.
Dr Cynthia Kiro (Ngapuhi
, Ngati Kahu
, Ngati Hine) is an Associate Professor at Massey University
in Te Mata o Te Tau a interdisciplinary and intersectoral Māori Academy.
Prior to the act Children's Commissioners were established under the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1989
Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1989
The Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1989 is an Act of the New Zealand Parliament, passed in 1989. The Act provided for the care and protection of children as well as youth justice...
.
The Children's Commissioner, an office equivalent to that known in other countries as the Children's Ombudsman
Children's Ombudsman
The Children's Ombudsman, Children's Commissioner, Child Advocate, Children's Commission or equivalent body is a public authority in various countries charged with the protection and promotion of the rights of children and young people, either in society at large, or in specific categories such as...
, conducts investigations as to whether the rights or welfare of a child or children have been prejudiced. The investigations can cover almost anything, except courts or tribunals, their actions and their decisions. The Commission has the power to require information or documentation as part of their investigation, but this appears to be rarely used.
Holders of the office have been of differing opinions on the controversy over the autopsy images of Ngatikaura Ngati
Autopsy images of Ngatikaura Ngati
Ngatikaura Ngati was a New Zealand-Tongan toddler who died in of child abuse in January 2006. He is notable for the deliberate release of official autopsy photographs after his death and the subsequent distribution of those photographs on the internet...
.
Russell Wills
1 July 2011 —Dr Russell Wills is a Hastings
Hastings
Hastings is a town and borough in the county of East Sussex on the south coast of England. The town is located east of the county town of Lewes and south east of London, and has an estimated population of 86,900....
-based paediatrician who was Head of Paediatrics at Hawke's Bay
Hawke's Bay
Hawke's Bay is a region of New Zealand. Hawke's Bay is recognised on the world stage for its award-winning wines. The regional council sits in both the cities of Napier and Hastings.-Geography:...
District Health Board before his appointment.
Cindy Kiro
1 September 2003—1 September 2008Dr Cynthia Kiro (Ngapuhi
Ngapuhi
Ngāpuhi is a Māori iwi located in the Northland region of New Zealand, and centred in the Hokianga, the Bay of Islands and Whāngārei.Ngāpuhi has the largest affiliation of any New Zealand iwi, with 122,214 people registered , and formed from 150 hapu, with 55 marae.-Foundations:The founding...
, Ngati Kahu
Ngati Kahu
Ngāti Kahu is a Māori iwi of Northland, New Zealand. Ngāti Kahu take their name from their founding ancestress, Kahutianui, and link their ancestry back to the waka Māmaru...
, Ngati Hine) is an Associate Professor at Massey University
Massey University
Massey University is one of New Zealand's largest universities with approximately 36,000 students, 20,000 of whom are extramural students.The University has campuses in Palmerston North , Wellington and Auckland . Massey offers most of its degrees extramurally within New Zealand and internationally...
in Te Mata o Te Tau a interdisciplinary and intersectoral Māori Academy.