Rights are an affirmation of the inherent dignity of people. This means we all hold human rights. Tamariki rights are interwoven and inseparable from those of their parents, whānau and community. We must always strive to uphold the rights of tamariki and whānau.

This means we:

• uphold the rights of tamariki/mokopuna, rangatahi and whānau Māori as expressed in Te Tiriti o Waitangi and work in ways that promote the rights of tamariki Māori as inextricably linked to the oranga (wellbeing) of their whānau, hapū and iwi
• assert the rights of all tamariki/mokopuna and rangatahi, whānau and families under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
• appreciate and balance the right of all tamariki/mokopuna and rangatahi to be loved and cared for by their whānau and family, while, at the same time, holding rights to live free from harm and abuse
• protect the rights of tamariki/mokopuna and rangatahi who offend, alongside victims, in accordance with statutory requirements and best practice guidelines.