Name: Dr Cindy Kiro

Occupation: Children’s Commissioner
Dr Cindy Kiro is the Children’s Commissioner in New Zealand. She is an adult voice for all children in New Zealand. She can advise government, parliament and government departments. People can go to her for information on the health and well-being of children in New Zealand society.

What does a Children’s Commissioner do?
From Cynthia

The Children’s Commissioner advocates for children, promotes their rights, interests and welfare. I talk to Government, professionals and community organisations, and to children, young people, the media, and to the public, about what we need to do to make sure that children and young people have the best possible deal in New Zealand.

Where are you from and do you have kids?
From Kyle

I was born in Whangarei and I have lived most of my life in Auckland with some time spent living overseas. I now live mostly in Wellington but I travel around the country a lot to meet many different people. I have two adult sons aged 25 and 22 years. They both live in Auckland.

What got you interested in being a Children’s Commissioner in the first place?
From Roberta

A long time working with children and young people and seeing things that I thought could be done better. I was especially concerned about some of the big issues that are more complex and didn’t get talked about much. I was also concerned that someone really needed to better co-ordinate the efforts of those in government and outside of government to ensure that children and young people got a better deal.

What has been the most exciting part of your job so far?
From Tamatoa

Meeting lots of children and young people all around the country and overseas, and also meeting the many people who are doing amazing work with children and young people. The depressing part of the job is realising how little children and young people are really valued in our country and how people don’t pay enough attention to what they really think or feel.

What job did you have before this job?
From Paulo

I was Associate Professor at Massey University based in Auckland. I had returned from nearly three years as a General Manager at the Auckland District Health Board and was on many boards before taking up this job. My background includes varied work in public health, policy, and working with children.

How have you been involved with the anti-smacking bill?
From Ripeka

I’ve been involved in many ways, including making lots of public comments, media releases, public speeches and meeting with the public, politicians, children and young people and community organisations. It has been a central piece of work in our office and has required a lot of co-ordination with community organisations especially.

How does your job affect me?
From Russell

Hopefully in lots of positive ways. We have published resources for parents around positive parenting (not using physical discipline but other more positive means). We provide a ‘Child Rights’ line for children and young people to call if they have issues that we can help with. We also fund an information line for families and children who are in dispute with schools called Plinfo, so that they can get good advice on handling disciplinary procedures. We advocate for improved child and adolescent health services (especially mental health and sexual health services for adolescents and primary health and mental health for children). We aim to improve educational engagement through projects that create supportive school environments. We assist with student transience (when students move around schools a lot). In addition, I work closely with a national taskforce to reduce child abuse through family violence. Hopefully this will improve the experience of many children, especially the most vulnerable.

What can children do about poverty?
From Kainoa

Not much, except express how it affects them in real terms. It is up to policy makers, parents and communities to play their part so that every child gets the best possible start.

What is the most important part of your job?
From Herschel

Hearing from children and young people, talking with politicians and policy makers and key organisations who work with children and young people and thinking strategically about how to improve things for children and young people.

Do you have a motto? If so what is it?
From Ashlea

Not really, just our vision for children “that every child is healthy, happy, educated and has hope for their future”.

What’s the worst part of the job?
From Brieze

Dealing with the ignorance around children and young people, and adult resistance to listening to children and young people and changing their own behaviour to make things better.

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