6. Conclusions – Ngā whakamutunga

Most children in New Zealand are able to enjoy their basic rights. These rights are often embraced in the values expressed within families. The Convention on the Rights of the Child recognises the importance of family as the primary source of protection and assistance for the child.

There are, however, many children and young people who are not afforded the basic necessities of life to enable them to become full and productive members of society. The failure to meet children’s fundamental human rights compounds the natural vulnerability of children that stems from their dependence on others, for example parents and teachers, to provide for their rights.

A knowledge of rights and the State’s obligation to ensure that these rights are met are critical factors in determining outcomes for children and young people.

New Zealand provides most children with many opportunities to enjoy their basic rights to security, identity and access to health services. However, there are a number of areas where we still have much to do.

Where New Zealand does well – Ngā mahi pai e oti nei i Aotearoa

Most children and young people in New Zealand:

• Are clothed, sheltered, fed and cared for in loving families and communities. The Working for Families package announced in the Government’s 2004–2005 Budget, targets low-income families providing direct financial assistance for families with dependent children, support for childcare, accommodation supplements and family assistance packages (Cullen, 2004).
• Are learning from good teachers in schools that make efforts to promote diversity and eliminate harassment and bullying. Ministry of Education research confirms the importance of good teaching and the positive relationships between teachers and students as the critical components of learning. The Government has invested in developing resources to support this learning through a range of pilot programmes. Among these are a number of anti-bullying programmes, including the Healthy School projects.
• Have largely free access to health care and education. Disabled children and young people have access to disability support services. The Government has invested in Health Promoting Schools, which promotes integration between health and education, and also provides 24 percent of Vote Health funding for services for children and young people through district health boards, primary health organisations and public health services.
• Are safe from abuse and violence. The New Zealand Family Violence Prevention Strategy aims to prevent, reduce and address abuse and neglect within families/whanau, and acknowledges the very real vulnerability of children. Child, Youth and Family also provides statutory back-up for children and young people where their own families fail to provide care and protection.
• Have good role models in the home and the wider community. Positive role models from sporting, cultural and arts backgrounds who engage with children and young people within the community are beneficial to the development of this next generation. This, combined with loving and affirming parents and caregivers, helps create a positive environment in which children and young people can grow.
• Have the opportunity to affirm their cultural identity through education (for example, the opportunity to learn Te Reo Maori) or through participation in other related activities. For example, local Iwi initiatives based on Tikanga Maori and the sustainability of Kura Kaupapa and Kohanga Reo are some of the pathways by which New Zealand Maori can discover and maintain their cultural identity. Pacific and Asian (such as Korean) language nests are also emerging.

Where we need to do better – Kia piki ake te pai i roto i enei wahanga

• Nearly one out of three children and young people in New Zealand live in poverty. This has significant implications for their development and the future of our society.
• Maori, Pacific and new migrant children, disabled children and children and young people with mental health problems are less able to fully realise their human rights than other social groups.
• Some children continue to suffer from abuse and neglect of all types. New Zealand has the fifth worst child maltreatment rate of 27 OECD countries included in a recent UNICEF report (2003).
• Some children encounter problems in accessing education, including disabled children, children who speak English as a second language, children with severe learning difficulties, and children living in poverty.
• Many children and young people are concerned about bullying, both at school and in the wider community. There is a concern that there is too much bullying and too little intervention.
• Discrimination is a problem that continues to affect young people in New Zealand, both at school and elsewhere. A comprehensive strategy is needed to address this issue, perhaps starting with a programme in schools to promote understanding of diversity and awareness of other children’s rights.
• Concern has been expressed about the minimum age of employment and the legislative provisions for young people in paid work. The current de facto age of 16 leaves numbers of young people working for low wages in unacceptable working conditions in both part-time and full-time work with limited protection and complaint mechanisms.
• There is a need to educate all people about the rights of children and young people. This would benefit all groups in society.
• There is concern about the abusive behaviour toward children of some caregivers and parents. Positive parenting programmes are required, along with support for parents to provide good role models for their children. Section 59 of the Crimes Act, allowing caregivers to exercise reasonable force (including the application of physical punishment), should be repealed.
• A small but significant number of children are being commercially sexually exploited. There is no coordinated, effective programme to prevent commercial sexual exploitation or to remove and rehabilitate these children already engaged in prostitution and subject to other forms of commercial sexual exploitation.

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