Stewart Barbara: Commissioner for Children Bill — Second Reading 
Stewart Barbara: Commissioner for Children Bill — Second Reading 
[Volume:613;Page:9781] 
BARBARA STEWART (NZ First) 
: 
 New Zealand First supports this legislation. As has already been pointed out this bill has been languishing on the Order Paper for quite some time—since April 2002. It is pleasing that at last we have the opportunity to progress it. We realise that there are very many issues for the commissioner to deal with. New Zealand First has always said that the quality of our future is determined by the quality of the children we leave to our future. That quality is determined primarily by the way we treat our children and also by the legislative framework around which we deal with them. Judge Becroft reinforced this message at a Littlies Lobby breakfast meeting which many of us attended. 
It is important to pay tribute to the role of the Commissioner for Children. It is the role of the commissioner to be an advocate for our youngest citizens and to ensure that we are all aware of the issues that affect this group so that changes can be made. The advocacy role is important. The bottom line is that our success as a society depends largely on our capacity to enable each child within New Zealand to meet his or her potential. The recent horrific examples of atrocities committed against children—and unfortunately there are now an increasing number—show that for some children life in New Zealand can be very dangerous and it can also be a living hell for them. It is for these children in particular that the commissioner can speak. 
We must pay tribute to the immediate past Commissioner for Children Roger McClay. He worked tirelessly among us all to ensure that the interests of children and their welfare were promoted amongst us as parliamentarians and amongst the many agencies that also work within the field. Thank you Roger McClay. We have appreciated all the work he did in this field and his endless enthusiasm for ensuring that the rights of New Zealand children and their welfare were always in front of all political parties at all times—something that we do appreciate. 
We notice that this bill gives the Commissioner for Children additional statutory functions to better effect and promote in New Zealand the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child which we definitely support. New Zealand First believes that this legislation will ensure independence and allow the Office of the Commissioner for Children more easily to promote the protection of New Zealand children. We hope that this office is adequately resourced to ensure that it can meet all its obligations and its goals. 
It is really pleasing to see the provision for a Deputy Commissioner for Children. New Zealand First was disappointed that the role of the Commissioner for Children has become a political appointment rather than an appointment requiring cross-party consultation. The fact that the appointment has a 5-year term and therefore straddles election cycles means that cross-party consultation on this matter is vital. It is really important that the Commissioner for Children remains independent. New Zealanders all need to know that the Commissioner for Children has been appointed because he or she is the best person for the job not because of political connections. Cross-party support for the recent appointment of a new commissioner would have allayed those concerns. We all want to see the best person in the job and we are looking forward to working with the new commissioner in her role. 
It is interesting to note that there are many issues concerning children about which there is no political disagreement and we often see that in this House. Children’s issues often wait far too long for action when there is no disagreement about what is needed. We all agree about what is required and how to go about it. The philosophy behind this bill is very clear: we value our children. The legislation gives the commissioner the mandate to ensure that the rights of New Zealand children are enhanced in the future. New Zealand First definitely supports this bill.