The analysis of children's rights and their implementation are based in three potentially conflicting concepts. First, there is the concept of the child's autonomy to express views and make decisions; second, there is the concept of the family's responsibility to nurture and bring up children; and there is the concept of the state's responsibility to provide services that protect and enhance the lives of children. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child recognizes these three concepts regarding children's rights. New Zealand, which has been traditionally strong in fulfilling the state's responsibility for the care and protection of children, is weakening in its commitment to this responsibility. More and more responsibility is being placed on individual family members to care and provide for children. Children's views are virtually nonexistent in decisionmaking and the development of policy. Consequently, it depends on the capacities and capabilities of the family into which the child is born as to what chances and opportunities that child will have in life. This paper recommends that the social, economic, and welfare opportunities of all children in New Zealand become the major priority for government policy. A goal of government policies should be to balance the inequities of children from various backgrounds, so that they have equal opportunities in life. Further, the resources of the Office of the Commissioner for Children should be expanded to include a spokesperson to give the child's perspective on all policy and legislation proposals. 131 notes