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Children’s Commissioner Act 2022

Children’s Commissioner - Code of ethics

26: Commissioner’s code of ethics

You could also call this:

"The Commissioner's rules for working fairly and safely with people, especially children."

Illustration for Children’s Commissioner Act 2022

The Commissioner has a code of ethics that guides how they work with other people. You can think of a code of ethics like a set of rules that helps people make good choices. The Commissioner's code of ethics is about being safe and fair when working with others.

The code of ethics has some main goals, including making sure people are heard, especially children and young people. It also aims to make things clear and easy for people, and to not make things too hard for them. The code of ethics must include certain information, which is decided by regulations made under section 37.

The Commissioner must review the code of ethics every five years, or more often if regulations made under section 37 say so. When the Commissioner is making or changing the code of ethics, they must talk to certain people, who are decided by regulations made under section 37. The Commissioner must also make the code of ethics available on their website.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS733211.

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Part 2Children’s Commissioner
Code of ethics

26Commissioner’s code of ethics

  1. The Commissioner must have a code of ethics relating to engagement with other persons carried out by board members and staff of the Commissioner in the performance or exercise of the Commissioner’s functions, duties, or powers under this Act.

  2. The purposes of the code of ethics are to—

  3. ensure safe (including culturally safe) and ethical engagement:
    1. provide assurance that the voices of individuals, particularly children and young people, are heard:
      1. provide certainty in engagement:
        1. minimise the burden of engagement.

          1. The code of ethics must—

          2. include the information prescribed in regulations made under section 37; and
            1. be reviewed by the Commissioner at intervals not exceeding 5 years or any shorter intervals prescribed by regulations made under section 37.

              1. When developing the code of ethics, or any amendments to the code of ethics, the Commissioner must consult the persons prescribed by regulations made under section 37.

              2. The Commissioner must publish the code of ethics on an Internet site maintained by or on behalf of the Commissioner.

              Notes
              • Section 26 heading: amended, on , by section 24 of the Oversight of Oranga Tamariki System Legislation Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 34).
              • Section 26(1): amended, on , by section 24 of the Oversight of Oranga Tamariki System Legislation Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 34).
              • Section 26(3)(b): amended, on , by section 24 of the Oversight of Oranga Tamariki System Legislation Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 34).
              • Section 26(4): amended, on , by section 24 of the Oversight of Oranga Tamariki System Legislation Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 34).
              • Section 26(5): amended, on , by section 24 of the Oversight of Oranga Tamariki System Legislation Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 34).