Children and Young People's Commission

Children and Young People's Commission (Mana Mokopuna) is an independent Crown entity established by the New Zealand Government in July 2023 as a successor to the former Office of the Children's Commissioner. Like its predecessor, Maka Mokopuna advocates for children's rights in New Zealand, provides advice and guidance to the government and agencies, and lobbies for children in the decision-making process. The Commission consists of the fulltime Chief Children's Commissioner and five part-time Commissioners.

Leadership and functions
The Commission is an independent Crown entity consisted of the Chief Children's Commissioner and five Commissioners. As of December 2023, Maka Mokopuna's membership consists of the Chief Children's Commissioner Dr. Claire Ahmad, Deputy Children's Commissioner Donna Matahaere-Atariki, and Children's Commissioners Dr. Julie Wharewera-Mika, Ronelle Baker, and Josiah Tualamali'i.

The Commission's regulatory framework is the Children and Young People's Commission Act 2022 and the companion Oversight of Oranga Tamariki System Act 2022. Under the Oversight of Oranga Tamariki Act, the Commission retains the responsibility to monitor Oranga Tamariki's youth residences under the Optional Protocol on the Convention against Torture (OPCAT), including the use of both planned and unplanned visits. The Commission also works with the Independent Children's Monitor, which also assumed the monitoring functions of the former Office of the Children's Commissioner. The Commission focuses more on advocacy for children and young people.

History
On 24 August 2022, the Sixth Labour Government passed the Children and Young People's Commission Act 2022, which replaced the Office of the Children's Commissioner with the Children and Young People's Commission. The law change was opposed by all parties excepted the governing Labour Party.

The Commission formally came into existence on 1 July 2023, assuming the functions of the Office of the Children's Commissioner. The last Children's Commissioner Judge Frances Eivers served as the first Chief Children's Commissioner until 31 October 2023. She was succeeded by Dr. Ahmad, who was joined by Matahaere-Atariki, Dr Wharewera-Mika, Tualamali'i, and Baker as board members.