Andrew Becroft
Child poverty law welcomed by Children's Commissioner
The government says it will set both three-yearly and 10-year targets for reducing child poverty. And it will give yearly updates in the Budget. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern outlined the plan… Video, Audio
Racism against Māori, Pasifika in schools revealed
Disturbing complaints by students about racism in schools have emerged in a new report published today. Students say they suffered from racial stereotypes and low expectations from teachers, as well… Audio
Commissioner rejects coroner's child-register plan
The Children's Commissioner will not back a register to monitor all children despite a coroner saying it will save lives.
Coroner urges children's register but Commissioner hesitant
The Children's Commissioner will not back a register to monitor all children despite a coroner saying it will save lives. Coroner Wallace Bain made the recommendation after the brutal killing of Nia… Audio
NZ must 'keep up' on fixing child poverty - Commissioner
The latest Child Poverty Monitor shows the number of children living in hardship in New Zealand dropped by 5,000 in the past year. That's being welcomed by Children's Commissioner Judge Andrew Becroft… Video, Audio
Maori let down by system - Children's Commissioner
Children's Commissioner Judge Andrew Becroft says the family group conference system is under resourced and needs significant change and improvement. Audio
Teachers restraining children more than 130 times a month
The Education Ministry has released figures showing every month there a more than 130 cases of teachers using physical force to stop children hurting themselves or others. Schools have had to notify… Audio
Keeping youths in cells overnight is 'not good enough'
The lawyer for a sixteen-year-old boy who has spent three nights in a police cell because no youth beds are available is frustrated things have not improved despite the much hyped arrival of the… Audio
Nearly 25 percent of Oranga Tamariki family homes unused
Nearly a quarter of the country's family homes for troubled and neglected children are closed, with advocates saying it's because the Ministry of Social Development can't find people to staff them. Audio
Children's Commissioner wants mothballed homes back in service
The Children's Commissioner, Andrew Becroft says chronic problems with troubled teenagers being held in police cells could be eased signficantly if the Government's 'family homes' for teenagers were… Audio
New Zealand's use of restraint practices lambasted
The report called 'Thinking Outside The Box' found prisoners in New Zealand were four times more likely to be secluded than prisoners in England and Wales while Maori and women were the most likely… Audio
Backlog in sexual assault and child abuse cases
The Children's Commissioner Judge Andrew Becroft discusses the length of time it takes for abuse cases to be addressed. Audio
Ministry for Vulnerable Children launched today
The new Ministry for Vulnerable Children - Oranga Tamariki launches today, in the same week the outgoing agency Child Youth and Family receives criticism for lack of resourcing. Will the new ministry… Audio
New ministry for children is launched today
The complete overhaul of Child, Youth and Family and the creation of Oranga Tamariki has been years in the making and follows a comprehensive review by an expert advisory panel, as Sarah Robson… Audio
Children's Commissioner, Judge Andrew Becroft
The Children's Commissioner, Judge Andrew Becroft says for the new children's social welfare agency - Oranga Tamariki - is going to be well resourced and professional social work services. He says 1… Audio
Children's commissoner would like children to have a say in
Judge Andrew Becroft, commissioner for children, speaks the Panel about why he believes children should be consulted on changes to the education system. Audio
Government urged to change teen offender remand laws
As figures reveal a near 200 percent jump in the number of teen offenders spending time in police custody last year, legal experts are calling on the government to remove legislation allowing Child… Audio
Children's Commissioner says scrap putting kids in police cells
Children's Commissioner Andrew Becroft says more community-based initiatives are needed, as it's time to abolish the practice of holding youth in police cells. Audio
Commissioned: Children's Commissioner Judge Andrew Becroft
Over the next 18 months Children's Commissioner Judge Andrew Becroft will oversee the latest shake up for the ministry responsible for the wellbeing of children and more broadly families.
The… Audio
NZ still 'well behind' on poverty targets and plan
The Children's Commissioner says too many children in New Zealand remain in "severe and profound" poverty. Audio