Media Release

Hon Roger McClay
Commissioner for Children 31 May 2000

CHILDREN’S DAY GREAT NEWS

“A day focussing on letting our children know that we believe in them, trust them and want to listen to and care for them is great news,” said the Commissioner for Children, Roger McClay.

Roger McClay has been working with a number of other agencies in recent years to implement an idea first mooted by Wellington Rotary Clubs. Mr McClay said “the Children’s Day to be held on 29 October 2000 would be a great opportunity for parents and wider family members to spend time with children. It is a good time to focus on the needs of our children and their rights,” he said.

He said, that children had often commented to him that there was a need for a Children’s Day. Children know about, and love acknowledging fathers and mothers days, but have expressed the desire for a day to do with themselves as well. One youngster once told him, that without children there would be no mothers and fathers.

Mr McClay paid a special tribute to the Wellington Rotary Club, which in 1995 formulated a document recommending that New Zealand have its own National Children’s Day. He said, that the then Minister of Youth Affairs, Tony Ryall supported this idea and arranged for key agencies in child welfare to meet and discuss it further. Since that time, many government departments and community agencies have been meeting, and have been consulted about the proposed Children’s Day.

ENDS

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