News Releases

Children pay the price for family violence

Friday’s White Ribbon day, which aims to end family violence against women, serves as a reminder not to forget the children when it comes to matters of domestic abuse.

Dad pens song and children's book about daughter

A young girl's wish for a sibling is the inspiration behind her dad's new children's book and song.

Singer-songwriter, and now author, Chris Sanders, who lives on Auckland's North Shore, released Angel Star in October.

Child Matters' annual report shows significant growth in training numbers

A record 5,520 people from health, education, justice and the social sector organisations have received training in child protection this year from charitable organisation, Child Matters – a significant increase in attendees of 40.3 per cent over the previous year.

Educators schooled on vulnerable children

Nearly 1500 teachers, principals, and school trustees have a renewed sense of confidence around supporting vulnerable children following a series of workshops held by child advocacy group Child Matters.

Charity hopes outrage leads to prevention

National child abuse prevention charitable trust, Child Matters, hopes the overwhelming national outrage following the death of a three year old Taupo boy as a result of child abuse, will ultimately help lead to a greater protection of New Zealand’s children.

8 Tips to Keep Children Safe this Holiday Season

We plan our Christmas presents, our food for Christmas Dinner, and our summer holiday. But what about planning to ensure our children are safe over the holidays?

Social Angels help teacher tackle child abuse

Child Matters, and Bronwyn Maze are both very thankful to Social Angels for enabling Bronwyn, a Resource Teacher for Learning and Behaviour (RTLB) at Tahuna Intermediate School, to undertake critical child protection training.  

Child Matters delighted with White Paper priorities
Amanda Meynell, Academic Services Manager of leading child abuse prevention organisation Child Matters, is delighted with the White Paper for Vulnerable Children, released today. The White paper has incorporated numerous initiatives which Child Matters has been strongly advocating for since its inception in 1994 and Mrs Meynell is excited to see such a comprehensive plan covering these, being developed.

Inquiry ‘Balanced and comprehensive’ but further steps critical
Leading child abuse prevention organisation Child Matters has described today’s Ministerial inquiry into the Employment of a Convicted Sex Offender in the Education Sector as ‘balanced and comprehensive’.

New resource helps organisations keep child abusers at bay
Leading child advocate organisation, Child Matters, today launched a publication that it hopes will be used by every organisation in New Zealand that has staff coming into contact with children.

Train our Professionals… Save our Children.
The Coroner’s report on the deaths of Chris and Cru Kahui has once again highlighted the need for child protection training of our professionals.

“Make sure our money is not wasted” child protection specialists tell Health Select Committee
Child Advocacy trust Child Matters appeared before the Health Select Committee today with the strong message that whatever interventions the Committee concluded might be valid, such interventions will not succeed if the people involved do not have the skills to carry them out.

Children Rely on Adults to Keep Them Safe
The one thing that this week’s comment by the Social Welfare Minister Paula Bennett has done is refocus the nation’s attention back onto the need to protect children. And that is a very good outcome.

Childcare Organisation well equipped to protect children
Child Matters’ Academic Services Manager, Amanda Meynell, is delighted to have awarded the first certificate qualifying an early childhood education organisation to train their own staff in child protection, this week.  footsteps poutama, the only organisation to have achieved this level of training and certification, have been part of a pilot programme through Child Matters for 2 years.

Sex Offenders Register Raises Complex Issue
Ann Tolley has this week announced her intention to set up a sex offender register. Child Matters Academic Services Manager Amanda Meynell believes that there could be benefits in a Sex Offender Register and the access and information sharing that it would provide for authorities and agencies.

New Act Strengthens Existing Laws but Training Needed
Today the new Crimes Amendment Act 2011 comes into force, which creates a new offence of failing to protect a child or vulnerable adult and doubles the penalty for child abuse.

Resource readily available to ensure sex offenders cannot work in our schools
The announcement by the Education Minister of a convicted sex offender working in schools has disappointed but not surprised child abuse prevention organisation Child Matters.

Child Matters’ submission to Green Paper urges compulsory training for all people who work with children
New Zealand’s leading child advocacy training organisation, Child Matters, today finalised its submission to the Government’s Green Paper...

Child Abuse Advocate due to finish 750km walk in Porirua 
“I would walk to the ends of the earth to ensure that child abuse is never swept under the carpet again.” said ‘Link Hands Against Child Abuse’ walker and child abuse survivor Barb Mullen. Ms Mullen is in the home straight of a 750km walk to raise awareness of the issue of child abuse and raise funds for child abuse prevention organisation Child Matters.

Risks of having unrelated adults living with children highlighted
Following the charging of Matthew Ellery for the death of Ngaruawahia infant Serenity Jay Scott Dinnington, Child Matters spokesperson Amanda Meynell says “it is important that parents understand the risks to their children of having unrelated adults living in their home with their children.”

Specialist Child Protection training needed for all working with children

Bridgette O’Sullivan named an ambassador for child abuse prevention organisation

Camp Sexual Assault on Children Could have been avoided

Specialist training is the key to stopping child abuse

Ignorance is bliss when it comes to child abuse

New Zealanders urged to ‘just do one thing’ to take action against child abuse

We must step in to stop child tragedies

Child abuse prevention agency welcomes changes to Bill