Children are the Responsibility of ...

Children's Commissioner Cindy Kiro has outlined her 'vision for New Zealand children'. She said, “My vision is that every child in New Zealand is safe, nurtured, educated, healthy, and has hope for the future.”

Good sentiment. But then comes: "“Ensuring that children are safe and nurtured, have the resources to develop to their full potential, and have their views considered in matters that affect them, is a fundamental responsibility of governments and communities.” (My emphasis.)

And I always thought it was the fundamental responsibility of Parents. (Yes, plural!) Perhaps Cindy Kiro's perfect world is like the one in George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty Four where children were supposed to have allegience to 'Big Brother' ahead of their family.

In fact, the word 'Parents' only is mentioned in the context of them seeking help from Government and NGOs to ensure their children are safe and nutured.