Taking Care of Our Children: 30 Years of Child Rights in Aotearoa New Zealand

Abstract

In a recent report released by New Zealand’s Office of the Children’s Commissioner and the New Zealand Ministry for Children (Oranga Tamariki), children and young people were asked for their perspective on what wellbeing means for them. The data gathered is intended to inform a Child and Youth Wellbeing Strategy. It is to be commended that this research gave an opportunity for children and young people to have a say on what is important in their lives. However, the results are concerning. While most children responded positively saying they were satisfied with their wellbeing, about 10% of the 6000 participants say they face challenges. This research data is invaluable for exploring how New Zealand is responding to these challenges in the lives of young children, and where their rights are being dishonoured.

Although adults may ask for participation from children and young people, how are the voices of the youngest children valued? Their agency is often trivialised and not respected, therefore becoming a barrier to growing citizenship in our society. The discourse around citizenship education needs to be inclusive of the youngest children who are often most affected by social and education policy. All learners have the right to gain knowledge and develop skills that are practiced and affirmed every day within the early childhood context, and within the families and communities (SDG 4.7). It is therefore, the responsibilities of teachers and teacher education programmes to take advocacy for children’s rights seriously, so that young children from diverse backgrounds can take their rightful place as citizens in New Zealand society.