Social Development Minister Louise Upston expects her reinstatement of a Children’s Commissioner will be popular.
The Government has moved to scrap the five-member panel overseeing the Children’s Commission and go back to a single commissioner.
It also intends to make the Independent Children’s Monitor an independent crown entity rather than siting it within the Education Review Office.
Ms Upston says she was responding to continuing criticism of the 2022 changes.
“When we had submissions on the changes the previous Government put in place there was vast opposition to the removal of a single children’s commissioner so I’m returning to what it was before the changes were made. That is what the sector asked for and I’m delivering it.
“It’s also critical that the Children’s Monitor operates at arm’s length from Government, and I’m concerned it is not seen as fully independent of political considerations as an agency within a government department.” Minister Upston says
Over 300 of the 403 submissions on the Oversight of Oranga Tamariki System and Children and Young People’s Commission Bill opposed the changes.
