Govt to ease fears about whanau first
Overhaul of the child protection laws puts emphasis on placing children in a safe, loving home.
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Latest fromChildren's Commissioner
Mixed reception on voting age debate
Becroft thinks lowering the voting age will engage youth in democracy earlier.
Should voting age be 16?
It's thought lowering the voting age could help with voter engagement.
'Shaken' by extent of child poverty in NZ
Annual monitor shows child poverty rates are stable but children's commissioner calls for a poverty reduction target to be set.
How 77 kids have died in NZ state care
Almost 80 children have died in the care of the New Zealand state in the past 15 years - an average of five a year.
Kids in state care can stay until 21
Young people in state care will soon have a right to stay in or return to care until they turn 21.
Paul Little: Violence against kids is not okay
COMMENT: Recent cases indicate violence between and against children is widely accepted.
Seclusion rooms to be investigated
The Chief Ombudsman will investigate the use of seclusion rooms in schools, following reports that locked "time out" rooms had been used to restrain children.
Calls for inquiry into 'time out' rooms
An independent inquiry should immediately investigate the use of "time out" rooms in schools, says the head of the national Autism charity.
Anger over 'time-out' room revelations
Angry parents say they will pull their children from a Wellington school caught using a "time-out" room for naughty pupils unless there is more accountability.
Use Maori name, Commissioner urges
Children's ministry name is too negative, says Commissioner, who urges Kiwis to use only the Maori name.
Iwi sign vow for 'nation's kids'
Maori tribal leaders will today sign a "covenant" with the nation's children, promising to respect them and make childhood a time of "joy and light".
Children's Commissioner urges lift in age limit for Youth Court
New Children's Commissioner Judge Andrew Becroft has launched a campaign to raise the upper age limit for the Youth Court from 17 to 18.
Editorial: Child poverty needs more direct action
The latest report tells us 29 per cent of children lived in poverty in 2014, up from 24 per cent the previous year. About 14 per cent live in material hardship, lacking several of the items most New Zealanders would consider essential.
More support required to help kids in need, says Children's Commissioner
More financial support is needed for caregivers of vulnerable children to do their job properly, says Children's Commissioner Russell Wills.
Audrey Young: Report paves way for CYF redesign
Children's Commissioner Russell Wills has done the Government a huge favour with his State of Care report this week, whether he intended to or not.
Man calls for extended care of state
Tupua Urlich was just 17 when the state ended its care for him.
Should all kids have free healthcare?
The Children's Commissioner wants a rethink of universal services so more public spending can go to the neediest families.
Ewen McQueen: Cinderella effect can't be ignored
Overseas studies support Kiwi research on role of casual relationships in child abuse, writes Ewen McQueen.
Child poverty is everybody's business
Next year is election year and all the parties have an opportunity to show us their commitment to children, writes Russell Wills, Children's Commissioner.
John Dew: Clear picture needed of nation's most vulnerable
The measurement of child poverty is complex, hard to understand and has become a highly polarised matter, says John Dew.
Call to focus election on child poverty
Children's Commissioner, Dr Russell Wills, wants motorists, the well-off and the elderly to take less from taxpayers so that more public funding can go into tackling child poverty.
Child poverty expert goes it alone
Children's Commissioner Dr Russell Wills has decided to publish his own annual stocktake of child poverty after the Govt spurned his call to publish official measures and targets.
Troubled youngsters failed by poor care
An Auckland teenager who has spent much of his life in state care is warning poor quality caregivers are responsible for filling our jails with criminals.
Brian Rudman: Zapping youngsters a step too far
"Why should under-25s, with nothing but a desire for a romantic stroll in the park, be driven out for nothing more than the crime of having acute hearing?" asks Brian Rudman.
Men called to step up for kids
The respected policy expert charged with finding solutions to child poverty has challenged men to take responsibility for children's well-being - it's not enough to leave it to the womenfolk.