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Children’s Commissioner Act 2022

Children’s Commissioner - Commissioner’s functions, duties, and powers

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

You could also call this:

"Helping kids and young people by looking out for their rights and well-being"

Illustration for Children’s Commissioner Act 2022

The Commissioner's job is to help children and young people by doing things like developing reports on issues that affect them. You can think of the Commissioner as someone who looks out for the interests and well-being of children and young people. The Commissioner does this in many ways, including advocating for their well-being, supporting them to resolve issues with agencies, and providing information to the public about their rights and interests.

The Commissioner also raises awareness about matters that relate to children's and young people's rights, interests, or well-being, and undertakes research into these matters, giving special attention to te ao Māori. The Commissioner receives representations from the public on any matter that relates to the rights, interests, or well-being of children and young people, and reports to the Prime Minister on matters affecting their rights.

The Commissioner can inquire into systemic matters that affect children and young people, and present reports to courts or tribunals on issues that relate to their rights, interests, or well-being, including the Children's Convention.

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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=LMS733204.

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"The Commissioner doesn't have to pay tax on their income."

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21: Function relating to promoting and advancing rights of children and young people, or

"Helping to make sure children and young people are treated fairly and have their rights respected."

Part 2Children’s Commissioner
Commissioner’s functions, duties, and powers

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:
    1. advocating for children’s and young people’s well-being, and their interests collectively:
      1. supporting a child or young person to engage with agencies to facilitate the resolution of issues:
        1. 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:
          1. 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:
            1. 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:
              1. 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:
                1. reporting, with or without request, to the Prime Minister on matters affecting the rights of children and young people:
                  1. 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:
                    1. 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
                        1. counsel representing any party to the proceedings; or
                          1. counsel representing any child who is the subject of the proceedings; or
                            1. counsel assisting the court or tribunal.

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                            Notes
                            • Section 20: amended, on , by section 24 of the Oversight of Oranga Tamariki System Legislation Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 34).