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Download AudioThe outgoing Children’s Commissioner says the job opened his eyes to the situation of many Māori in Aotearoa.
During his five years in the role Andrew Becroft pushed the organisation down the path of co-governance with the appointment of an assistant Māori commissioner for children.
He probed the activities of Oranga Tamariki and called on it to close its care and protection residences.
He says the situation of Māori came as a shock.
“I underestimated how much and how many Māori feel marginalised from the system and experience racism regularly. You sort of think in New Zealand we’re getting over that but I learned a huge amount from Māori,” he says.
Judge Beecroft says highlights of his term include seeing the law changes so 17-year-old offenders are dealt with in the youth justice system except for the most serous crimes, the introduction of child poverty legislation and targets, and having benefits linked to wage growth.
Despite that, 20 percent of children and young people are struggling economically and 10 percent are in chronic intergenerational hardship.
He expects to return to some role in the courts, and says he will be stronger after his time a commissioner.
A pōwhiri for the new Children’s Commissioner, district court judge Frances Eivers from Ngāti Maniapoto and Waikato, was held this morning at Pipitea Marae.
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