Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Children’s Commissioner Act 2022

Preliminary provisions

7: Interpretation

You could also call this:

"What special words mean in the Children's Commissioner Act 2022"

Illustration for Children’s Commissioner Act 2022

When you read the Children's Commissioner Act 2022, you need to know what some words mean. The Act says an agency is what it means in section 8(1) of the Oversight of Oranga Tamariki System Act 2022. The chief executive of Oranga Tamariki is the person in charge of Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children.

You also need to know that a child is someone under 14 years old. The Children's Convention is the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which you can find in Schedule 2. The Act also talks about harm, which includes physical, psychological, emotional, or sexual harm.

The Independent Monitor of the Oranga Tamariki System or Monitor is what is established by section 12(1) of the Oversight of Oranga Tamariki System Act 2022. An inquiry is an investigation done under section 20(i). The Minister is the person in charge of the Act, and the Ministry is the government department responsible for the Act.

The Act also defines news activity and news entity, which have the same meanings as in section 7(1) of the Privacy Act 2020. Personal information also has the same meaning as in section 7(1) of the Privacy Act 2020.

The Act uses some Māori words, like te ao Māori, which means Māori world view, and tikanga Māori, which means Māori customary law and practices. A young person is someone who is 14 years old or more but not yet 18, or someone who is 18 years old or more but not yet 25 and has been in care or custody.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

This page was last updated on

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS733189.

Topics:
Family and relationships > Children and parentingRights and equality > Privacy
Previous

6: Tiriti o Waitangi/Treaty of Waitangi, or

"Respecting the Tiriti o Waitangi/Treaty of Waitangi promise to work with Māori and protect their children's rights."

Next

8: Children’s Convention, or

"What the Children's Convention says, as a guide to children's rights"

Part 1Preliminary provisions

7Interpretation

  1. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—

    agency has the same meaning as in section 8(1) of the Oversight of Oranga Tamariki System Act 2022

      chief executive of Oranga Tamariki means the Chief Executive of Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children

        child means a person under the age of 14 years

          Children’s Convention means the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, a copy of the English text of which is set out in Schedule 2

            code of ethics means the code of ethics required by section 26

              Commissioner means the Children’s Commissioner holding office under section 11 and appointed in accordance with sections 12 and 13

                department means a department within the meaning of section 5 of the Public Service Act 2020

                  Deputy Commissioner means the Deputy Children’s Commissioner appointed under section 14

                    former Act means the Children’s Commissioner Act 2003

                      harm includes physical, psychological, emotional, or sexual harm

                        in care or custody, in relation to a child or young person, means being subject to an order for custody or sole guardianship or to a care agreement, in favour of (or naming as the carer) the chief executive of Oranga Tamariki, an iwi social service, a cultural social service, or the director of a child and family support service

                          Independent Monitor of the Oranga Tamariki System or Monitor means the Monitor established by section 12(1) of the Oversight of Oranga Tamariki System Act 2022

                            inquiry means an inquiry conducted under section 20(i)

                              Minister means the Minister of the Crown who, under the authority of a warrant or with the authority of the Prime Minister, is for the time being responsible for the administration of this Act

                                Ministry means the department of State that, with the authority of the Prime Minister, is for the time being responsible for the administration of this Act

                                  news activity has the same meaning as in section 7(1) of the Privacy Act 2020

                                    news entity has the same meaning as in section 7(1) of the Privacy Act 2020

                                      Ombudsman means an Ombudsman appointed under the Ombudsmen Act 1975

                                        Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children means the department of State that is, with the authority of the Prime Minister, for the time being responsible for the administration of the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989

                                          Oranga Tamariki system has the meaning given in section 9 of the Oversight of Oranga Tamariki System Act 2022

                                            personal information has the same meaning as in section 7(1) of the Privacy Act 2020

                                              te ao Māori means Māori world view

                                                tikanga Māori means Māori customary law and practices

                                                  young person means—

                                                  1. a person aged 14 years or over but under 18 years; and
                                                    1. a person aged 18 years or over but under 25 years if they are, or have been, in care or custody.

                                                    Notes
                                                    • Section 7 board: repealed, on , by section 19(1) of the Oversight of Oranga Tamariki System Legislation Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 34).
                                                    • Section 7 board member: repealed, on , by section 19(1) of the Oversight of Oranga Tamariki System Legislation Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 34).
                                                    • Section 7 Children and Young People’s Commission or Commission: repealed, on , by section 19(1) of the Oversight of Oranga Tamariki System Legislation Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 34).
                                                    • Section 7 Commissioner: inserted, on , by section 19(2) of the Oversight of Oranga Tamariki System Legislation Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 34).
                                                    • Section 7 Deputy Commissioner: inserted, on , by section 19(2) of the Oversight of Oranga Tamariki System Legislation Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 34).
                                                    • Section 7 Independent Monitor of the Oranga Tamariki System or Monitor: amended, on , by section 24 of the Oversight of Oranga Tamariki System Legislation Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 34).