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