Legislation
The Families Commission was established by the Families Commission Act 2003. Under the Crown Entities Act 2004, the Families Commission is an autonomous Crown entity. You can view it online at www.legislation.govt.nz/ (follow the link to ‘Statutes’ and browse for the Act under ‘F’ in the contents list).
The Crown Entities Act is also online at www.legislation.govt.nz (follow the link to 'Statutes' and browse for the Act under 'C' in the contents list).
You can read sections of the Families Commission Act that relate to the Commissioner's functions by clicking on the links below.
Families Commission Act 2003 — Part 1
- Preliminary matters
- 2. Commencement
- 3. Purpose of this Act
- 4. Interpretation
- 5. Act binds the Crown
- Establishment of Commission
- 6. Commission established
- Commission's functions
- 7. Commission's main function
- 8. Commission's additional functions
- Other matters to which the Commission must have regard
- 9. Government policy and priorities
- 10. Diversity of New Zealand families
- 11. Needs, values, and beliefs of particular groups
- 12. Relevant international obligations
- Obligation to obtain views of specified groups
- 13. Mechanisms for obtaining views of specified groups
- Commission's power to refer communications to others
- 14. Referral to other official bodies or to statutory officers
- Nature and membership of Commission, and board's role
- 15. Commission is body corporate
- 16. Capacity and powers
- 17. Financial reporting: Commission to be Crown entity
- 18. Membership of Commission
- 19. Board's role
- 20. Further provisions relating to members and board
- 21 Accountability of members to Minister
- Minister's role
- 22. Minister's role
- 23. Minister accountable to House of Representatives