20Function relating to promoting interests and well-being of children and young people

1. A function of the Commissioner is to promote the interests and well-being of children and young people by—

2. developing and publishing reports and submissions on issues through a child- and young person-centred lens and, when appropriate, making those reports publicly available:
3. advocating for children’s and young people’s well-being, and their interests collectively:
4. supporting a child or young person to engage with agencies to facilitate the resolution of issues:
5. providing information to members of the public who have questions about matters relating to children’s and young people’s rights, interests, or well-being:
6. raising public awareness and understanding of matters that relate to children’s and young people’s rights, interests, or well-being, including (without limitation) by contributing to public debate:
7. undertaking and promoting research into any matter that relates to the rights, interests, or well-being of children and young people, while giving special attention to te ao Māori:
8. receiving and inviting representations from members of the public on any matter that relates to the rights, interests, or well-being of children and young people:
9. reporting, with or without request, to the Prime Minister on matters affecting the rights of children and young people:
10. inquiring generally into, and reporting on, any systemic matter, including (without limitation) any legislation or policy, or any practice or procedure, that relates to or affects the rights, interests, or well-being of children and young people:
11. presenting reports to proceedings before any court or tribunal that relate to the Children’s Convention or to the rights, interests, or well-being of children generally and presenting reports on such issues to the court or tribunal, at the request of—
    1. the court or tribunal; or
    2. counsel representing any party to the proceedings; or
    3. counsel representing any child who is the subject of the proceedings; or
    4. counsel assisting the court or tribunal.