21/11/2018

Red balloons, a pig and 50 active Auckland pre-school children came together in Auckland yesterday (Tuesday 20 November) to celebrate of 25 years of children’s rights in New Zealand.

The joint celebration at the Sailing Club in Point Chevalier was arranged by Save the Children NZ, Variety – the Children’s Charity and Voyce Whakarongo Mai.

Save the Children NZ Chief Executive Heidi Coetzee says, “It was fantastic to see the children’s faces when Peppa Pig appeared. Many children around the world don’t have the opportunity to play and it was great to see the kids having a fun time. All children should have a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm.

“While most children in this country have a happy and safe life; the rights of some children are not being met. If we want New Zealand to be the best place in the world to be a child this needs to change.”

Variety – the Children’s Charity’s Chief Executive Officer, Lorraine Taylor, says with one in four Kiwi kids living without essentials, the anniversary provided a chance to shine a light on what remains to be such a vital area.

“As a country, 25 years ago we made a promise to do everything in our power to protect and promote the rights of children. While we are making positive steps forward – not so long ago one in three Kiwi kids that were living in deprivation – there is much more to be done.”

“By joining forces, we can ensure that all children in New Zealand have access to basic essentials, equal opportunities, and as is our mission here at Variety, the childhood they deserve,” says Taylor.

VOYCE – Whakarongo Mai Chief Executive Ainsleigh Cribb-Su’a agreed with her counterparts saying huge strides have been made in improving the lives of children in Aotearoa New Zealand, however more is needed to honour the commitment which was made.

“As a country, we are aiming to be an amazing place for all tamariki and rangitahi atawhai. By banding together, we are sending a signal to honour the commitment to uphold the rights of all tamariki and rangatahi.”

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCROC), which guarantees basic and fundamental rights to the world's children, was ratified by New Zealand in 1993.

The rights are set out in 54 articles that establish human rights standards for the treatment of children and young people and sets out in detail what every child needs to have a safe, happy and fulfilled childhood.

ENDS

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