The society was a voluntary organisation that aimed to protect children from neglect and abuse. New Zealand Society for the Protection of Women and Children Public schools were set up by regional education boards. Permitted provincial councils to provide care and custody of children who were neglected or orphaned.įree and compulsory education was provided for all standard six (year eight) New Zealand children.

The developments in the 19th century are indicative of the belief that children had a right to protection. This position changed later in the century as minors were seen as a vulnerable group in need of protection the concept of children's rights did not arise until later. In the early 19th century, minors living in New Zealand were not given special rights in law, as they were not distinguished from adults.

For example, 16-year-olds may leave school, and 18-year-olds may buy alcohol. Some legal age restrictions are lifted below the age of majority, trusting that a child of a certain age is equipped to deal with the potential harm. There are laws to protect young people from harm that they may be subject to due to their lack of maturity. On reaching this 'age of majority' the person is no longer a child in the eyes of the law, and has all the rights and obligations of an adult. In New Zealand a person is considered a child or 'minor' until the age of 20. The laws and policies comply with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which New Zealand ratified on 6 April 1993. These include the Children's Commissioner Act 2003, the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989, the Care of Children Act 2004, the Education Act 1989, the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990, the Crimes Act 1961, the Human Rights Act 1993, the Privacy Act 1993, and the Official Information Act 1982. The rights of children living in New Zealand are secured through various pieces of legislation.

New zeland law of armed conflict