KiwiParent from Parents Center NZ Test Volume | Page 40

Vulnerable

CHILDREN
– everyone’s responsibility

New Zealand is a great place to grow up. Many
of us have memories of long summers, beaches,
backyard cricket, spending time with our families.
It’s a country I’m proud of, and one I’m proud my
children have grown up in.
But far too many children and young people miss out
on happy childhoods. For them, New Zealand isn’t a
good place to grow up. The people who are meant
to look after them don’t. There are Kiwi children who
are neglected, ignored, and abused. Between seven
and ten Kiwi children on average are killed each year
at the hands of those who should be protecting them.
Last year Child, Youth and Family had over 21,000
substantiated cases of abuse and neglect.
One child is one too many. What happens to these
children deserves more than our abhorrence. These
children deserve action.
The White Paper for Vulnerable Children contains the
most important work I can do as a Minister and that we
can do as a country – protect our children. It is driven by
the need to provide direct resources, interventions and
support to children who are currently being abused or
seriously neglected, and those who are most at risk.
Following the release of the White Paper in October last
year the Children’s Action Plan is now underway. This
provides the framework for the White Paper and we’re
working hard at putting the first steps in place.
New Children’s Teams are being set up in Rotorua and
Whangarei. They will focus on vulnerable children,
creating individual plans to better protect each child
that comes to their attention. I recently visited the
team in Whangarei and was hugely impressed by the
speed they’re progressing with, and how their whole of
community approach is helping find solutions to tough
issues.
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