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Archived Press Releases 2009 11th July 2009

OCC is a Crock

(11th July 2009)

SST Spokesperson Christine Davey is indebted to John Angus, interim Childrens Commissioner, for his PR celebrating 20 years in existence and providing an insight into what the OCC actually does and doesn't do.

Ms Davey had previously believed that the Office of the Children's Commission was actually there to help prevent children being physically and emotionally harmed. Instead, it is now apparent that this Office is more concerned with undermining good parents than saving children from bad parents.

Their proud input into providing young people with their own set of Rights has pitted children against parents who try to set boundaries. But as far as protecting children from abuse is concerned, the OCC merely pays that lip service.

On November 19th 2007 the Herald published an article which contained the following statement:
"On World Child Abuse Prevention Day, Children’s Commissioner Dr Cindy Kiro asked New Zealanders to speak up if they witness abuse against children and young people and hold others accountable if they know they are abusers."

And yet when you contact the OCC regarding a concern about – say – a grandchild you consider to be at risk, you are merely informed of the correct process, which is all through CYF – the most dysfunctional Government Department of them all.

CYF are not interested in grandparental concern – if the mother says everything is fine, CYF accept that.

According to John Angus, what OCC has done is "Work on both understanding and preventing child abuse (which) has included individual investigations into the killings of Craig Manukau (1992), James Whakaruru (1999) and Saliel and Olympia Aplin (2001), as well as publication of the report Death and serious injury from assault of children aged under five years in Aotearoa New Zealand. "

How has this saved other children who have been harmed as a result of child abuse?

According to a presentation by Rob Teppett in November 2006, 162 children died as a result of abuse between 1989 and 2000.

And from the Childrens Commissioner Reports with reference to UNCROC related matters, Version 5.12.07, Annual Report 30 June 2007, we're told that "55 children known to CYF died in 2006/07."

It appears that the OCC remains entirely objective about child abuse in NZ. This is not what our vulnerable children need. They need someone who is passionate about their plight; someone who listens and thoroughly investigates all Notifications from concerned people.

Ms Davey suggests that calling themselves a Children's Commission is misleading, and perhaps after 20 years it's time to change the name.

All it would take is the addition of one letter to accurately reflect this writer's opinion of the current OCC:
Convention on the Rights of the Child? (CROCK)

Regards,

Christine Davey
Sensible Sentencing Spokesperson on Drug Issues,
mobile 027 6376166
Christine Davey has first hand experience of P use in her family, and also supports many other NZ parents in her role as Administrator on the Fight Against P website www.fightagainstp.com

Through the Sensible Sentencing Trust Christine is campaigning for intervention in drug use at family request and removal of children from the care of known drug-users.