Rights under the Children’s Convention
You have the right to protect and preserve your identity, including your name, nationality and family ties. The Government should do what it can to help you re-establish your identity if it is ever taken away from you.
You have the right to live with, or stay in contact with your family/ whānau unless this is harmful to you. If you are separated from your family, you also have the right to see them or be re-united with them.
The Government should do what it can to listen to the needs of you and your whānau and support you to maintain relations with your whānau.
You have the right to choose your own friends and be involved in groups or clubs as long as it’s legal and won’t hurt you or anyone else.
The Government should respect this right and ensure that there is nothing limiting you from joining organisations and protesting peacefully.
You have the right to live with and be raised by your parents or family/whanau unless you are being harmed. You have the right to be protected from violence, abuse and neglect by your parents or caregivers
If your parents or family/whānau can’t look after you properly, the Government must make sure that you live somewhere that is safe, where people respect you, your religion, culture and language.
If you are adopted, your adoption must be legal. You also have the right to the best care and to have your wellbeing put first.
The Government should ensure the provision of appropriate supports to guarantee that you are adopted by people who are able to give you the best care. For mokopuna Māori this means shared whakapapa.
The Government must make sure to uphold the laws that help you to live somewhere that is safe, where people respect you.
You have the right to special protection and help if you’re a refugee (if you are forced to leave your home and live in a different country). You also have the same rights as other children and young people born in New Zealand.
If you are a refugee you have the right to special protection and help whether you’ve come to New Zealand with other people or not.
The government must ensure that your views and best interests are considered in the refugee status determination process.
You have the right to a good quality education that helps you develop your personality, talents and abilities to the full. You should be treated with respect and be encouraged to respect each other’s rights and values. Discipline in schools should respect your dignity.
The government should ensure that where you access education, this is done in a way that supports you to achieve.
You have the right to learn about and practice your own culture language and religion. If you are from a minority or indigenous culture you have the right to special protection from things that might stop you from being you.
The Government should recognise and respect your right to learn about and express your culture in the way that you want.