needs of tamariki [children] and mokopuna [grandchildren] are neglected and they have no voice.”127 101. Corrections Act provisions consider the best interests of the child in decisions to approve placement of a baby up to 24 months old with a mother in prison.128 There is otherwise limited consideration of a child’s views and interests and their ongoing relationship with a parent who is subject to the criminal justice system. Refugee and migrant children 102. The government has increased its refugee quota commitments and funding of refugee services since 2016.129 However, there has been no substantive reform to the Immigration Act 2009 to expressly require consideration of children’s views and best interests in refugee status determination processes, as recommended by the Committee in 2016.130 103. Recent migrants and people from refugee backgrounds, including children, were heavily represented among those killed, injured and bereaved in the Christchurch mosque attacks. Following the attacks, a number of protective measures were introduced. These included a special visa category enabling persons present during the attacks (including children), or their immediate family members, to apply for permanent residency.131 104. The Commission understands that those affected by the attacks face ongoing difficulties accessing coordinated support services. While funded support was available to victims via New Zealand’s ACC scheme, in July 2019, on the advice of the Treasury, the government declined to extend funded support under the scheme to cover trauma associated with mental injuries suffered by family members of those who were killed.132 105. A Royal Commission of Inquiry is due to report later in 2020 with recommendations to prevent future attacks.133 Employment 106. New Zealand employment law remains out of step with international standards regarding children. There has been no move to consider a minimum age of entry into employment. Further, health and safety at work regulations do not conform with the Convention standards, offering no special protections to workers aged 16 and 17 in respect of hazardous work.134 Youth justice 107. Reforms to youth justice legislation introduced by the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 have brought the upper age of the youth justice system into general conformity with the Convention. The Commission 127 “Turuki! Turuki! Moving Together”, report of Te Uepū Hāpai i te Ora – the Safe and Effective Justice Advisory Group, published in December 2019 https://www.safeandeffectivejustice.govt.nz/about-this-work/te-uepu-report/, page 12. 128 Corrections Act 2004, sections 81A – 81C. 129 From July 2018 New Zealand’s refugee quota increased from 750 to 1,000 people per year. The quota will increase to 1500 from July 2020. An additional 500 refugees from Syria were resettled in each of the 2016/17 and 2017/18 calendar years, above the quota. 130 CRC/C/NZL/CO/5, paragraph 40 131 New Zealand Immigration, Operational Manual: Residence, S4.30 132 https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12249392 133 https://christchurchattack.royalcommission.nz/ 134 Health and Safety at Work (General Risk and Workplace Management) Regulations 2016, Part 4, section 43-48 25

Select target paragraph3