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Children’s Commissioner Frances Eivers is keen to continue as an advocate for children after a restructuring of the sector.
From July the first her position will be replaced by a Children and Young Persons Commission focusing on advocacy, with the monitoring function done by an a Independent Children’s Monitor and the Ombudsman’s Office responsible for investigating complaints relating to tamariki.
Judge Eivers says she’s put her hand up to chair the new commission.
Despite being on record opposing the split between monitoring and advocacy, as the first commissioner on the board she is going to make sure the new model works for mokopuna they serve.
“If we take a positive on it, instead of one brain there will be a brains trust so if we taker that positive role and the important part is to keep the advocacy going for all mokopuna and especially those that don’t have that voice,” she says.
Judge Eivers says.
The Children’s Commission will still have a monitoring role under UN protocol against torture while the Independent Children’s Monitor will look at the processes and practices of Oranga Tamariki.
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