Minister proposes name change for legislation
Hon Anne Tolley
Minister for Children
14 March 2017
Minister proposes name change for legislation
Minister for Children Anne Tolley says she intends
to write to Parliament’s Social Services Committee to
propose changing the name of the Children, Young Persons,
and Their Families Act 1989 (the CYPF Act) to the Oranga
Tamariki Act, to reflect the nature and wide-reaching scope
of changes that are taking place through the overhaul of
care and protection.
“By changing the name of the Act we would be demonstrating that the new system for care and protection, under the Ministry for Vulnerable Children, Oranga Tamariki, will be more than a rejig or a rebrand of CYF, and one in which the safety and wellbeing of the child comes before everything else,” says Mrs Tolley.
“The new legislation is much more wide-reaching and incorporates the new child-centred way of working, from early intervention all the way through to transition into adulthood for vulnerable children and young people, rather than the current model which reacts to crises.
“We have already passed legislation to amend the CYPF Act which extends the age of state care and protection to a young person’s 18th birthday, ensures that the views of children and young people are taken into account in individual decisions and services and policies which affect them, and supports the establishment of an independent youth advocacy service.
“A second major piece of legislation to amend the CYPF Act, the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families (Oranga Tamariki) Legislation Bill, is at the select committee stage in Parliament at the moment, and I will be asking the Social Services Committee to consult with oral submitters on the potential name change.”
ends