The Government is seeking input from Anglicans on how New Zealand’s woeful record on child abuse can be improved.

Last year, it released its Green Paper for Vulnerable Children, a discussion document which suggests ways government practices and policies might be changed, and communities strengthened, so Kiwi children are better protected.

The Ministry of Social Development is seeking wide feedback to the Green Paper proposals, and input on the wider issue of how New Zealand's dreadful child abuse stats can be made better – and it has approached the Anglican Media Office in a bid to gain input from Anglicans.

Would-be responders have until February 28 to give their opinions.

The Ministry has recruited former All Black Norm Hewitt, along with South Auckland lawyer Sandra Alofivae, and Barnardos Chief Executive Murray Edridge to promote the Green Paper scheme.

“It’s about time someone drew a line in the sand and said ‘it’s up to us’,”  says Norm Hewitt, “because the Government does not have all the answers. We need to have a nationwide conversation about child abuse in New Zealand.”

New Zealand’s child abuse record is dismal – almost at the bottom of the OECD child welfare rankings.

Each year, around 10 children are killed by a member of their family, while more than 1200 others are hospitalised with intentional injuries from the same group.

But they are just a tiny representation of the 160,000 New Zealand children who are considered “vulnerable”, meaning their parenting or living conditions reduce their chances of reaching their full potential.

“I feel so sad when I hear another child has been hurt or killed by their caregivers,” says Norm Hewitt. “Names such as Lillybing, Chris and Cru Kahui, JJ Lawrence, Cezar Taylor, Terepo Taura-Griffith, James Whakaruru, are in the media far too often.”

“There’s an uproar every time one of these kids dies, a lot of blame and finger pointing, but no long-term solutions.

“We know what goes wrong in the lives of these children – the question is: how do we fix it? What we are doing now isn’t working, so we need to find a new way to protect our children. And that’s what the Green Paper for Vulnerable Children is seeking.”

While submitters are welcome to write on any child-focused issue they wish, the Green Paper has sought to focus the debate by asking questions around four areas of action, and submitters can respond to as many questions – or as few – as they please.

Some of the ideas up for discussion are challenging:

• Should all children be monitored from birth?
• Should governments do more to encourage communities to take responsibility?
• Should professionals who work with a family be allowed to share personal information?
• Who should receive less so children can receive more?

“These are some very big questions,” says Sandra Alofivae. “And that’s why we need opinions, views and submissions from as many New Zealanders as possible, no matter who they are, how qualified they are or how old – after all, children’s voices are perhaps the most important in this whole debate.

“In my 20 years working with children, young people and their families, I’ve seen many instances where better government policy or practice, or a different way of working would have made a big difference.

“That’s why we need to draw on all New Zealanders’ experience so we can come up with a really strong way forward for our children.”

Submissions on the Green Paper for Vulnerable Children are open until 28 February. Once submissions are read, a Children’s Action Plan will be developed.

 “If you’ve ever felt powerless to help those children,” says Murray Edridge,  “this is something you cando...

“You don’t have to say a lot, and you don’t have to have all the answers, you just have to say something.”

Go to www.saysomething.org.nz for more information on the Green Paper for Vulnerable Children.

You can:

• Visit www.saysomething.org.nz and make a submission online.
• Email to yourresponse@childrensactionplan.govt.nz.
• Mail: Green Paper for Vulnerable Children, PO Box 1556, Wellington 6140.
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/greenpapernz 
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/greenpapernz