Roger McClay Commissioner for Children

All actions, circumstances and support of children should take account of what is in their best interests.

Children’s best interests should be of primary consideration.

Children have a right to receive appropriate care, protection and guidance.

An ideal world would see a mother and father delivering these rights to their children. In the absence of this ideal, Parliament needs to determine who and when and how decisions will be made as to who may legally be charged with the privilege and responsibility of parenthood.

Parents and legal guardians of our children have the primary responsibility for the upbringing and development of the child in safety, trust, care, love and protection.

Adoption should only be carried out in the best interests of the child and then only with the authorisation of competent authorities and safeguards for the child. Every single case of proposed adoption must meet strict, specific criteria based upon the child’s best interests, rather than the convenience of adults.

I urge those concerned about these issues to make their views known to Members of Parliament who will finally make decisions on the issues raised in the recently tabled Law Commission Report "Adoption and Its Alternatives"

Office of the Commissioner for Children PO Box 12 537 Thorndon WELLINGTON

phone: 4711 410 phone fax: 4711 418 fax

email: children@occ.org.nz email

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