Children's Day – Te Rā O Te Tamariki – provides New Zealanders with an opportunity to give time to children and take part in fun activities that start new traditions as well as continue old ones.

Many nations in the world have a Children's Day but the magic of Te Rā O Te Tamariki is something that is unique and special to New Zealand. We celebrate this day across the country through events, activities and celebrations.

• Giving time
• Praise and encouragement
• Listening and talking
• Love and affection
• New experiences.

This year's key theme is ‘listening and talking'.

• Background
• The Tohu
• Our Supporters

The initial idea for Children's Day came from a suggestion by the first Children's Commissioner, Ian Hassall, in 1991. His suggestion was developed and progressed by the Rotary Club of Wellington.

In conjunction with the following Children's Commissioner, Laurie O'Reilly, the idea was then mooted to Government.

The third Children's Commissioner and former Minister of Youth Affairs, Roger McClay, then endorsed the concept along with several other Ministers.

In 1999, the National Steering Group was established to progress the concept of Children's Day. Interested government and non-government agencies were represented on this group.

The inaugural Children's Day was held on Sunday 29 October 2000 with the intention that Children's Day would occur on the last Sunday of October every year. In 2007 the date for Children's Day was changed to the first Sunday in March.

Vision:
To see children celebrated, nurtured and treasured by all.

Mission:
To establish Children's Day as an ongoing tradition in New Zealand.

Objectives of Children's Day:

• To heighten awareness of the importance and needs of children in society, and ways of promoting their development
• To promote a national focus on children and motivate adults towards positive appreciation and support of children
• To promote community responses for the ongoing celebration of Children's Day through local ownership and widespread participation
• To embrace the Children's Day Charter (PDF 43KB).

Children's Day has its own special tohu, or symbol. You can find it if you look at the top left-hand corner of this page.

Designed in 2001 by the late Raukawa kuia, Horiana Joyce, the Children's Day tohu reflects images that are unique to New Zealand's natural habitat. Look closely and you will see the greens and browns from our forest, curling koru fronds and shooting stars.

The whakatauki, or proverb, that accompanies the tohu gives this powerful symbol a voice. The whakamarama, the explanation, of the whakatauki was composed by Kui Pani Waru, no Ngati Porou, and inspired by a well-known Kohanga Waiata.

He tohu mō ngā tamariki
Tau ana ko te noho tahitanga
o ngā whānau, o ngā tuākana,
me ngā tēina i roto i te whāriki ngahere.
Arā, ka puāwai ngā tamariki a Matariki.

Mahia ngā mahi o ngā tamariki
hei āpōpō ka tū
hei rangatira.

The symbol for Children's Day
Peaceful earthy colours from the forest
weave a mat for the koru frond to rest upon,
smaller koru are securely nestled.
From this embrace stars burst forth
to realise their potential.

Fulfil the needs of our children and
tomorrow they stand strong.