Agencies working with abused children are calling on the government to open for public scrutiny the child sex offender register which is expected to be in place by mid next year.
Social Development Minister Anne Tolley announced a Bill would be introduced in Parliament to enable the establishment of New Zealand's first child sex offender register.
The Child Protection (Child Sex Offender Register) Bill would allow police and Corrections to establish the register for convicted child sex offenders aged 18 or over at the time of their offence.
These offenders would be those who are convicted and sentenced to prison, who receive a non-custodial sentence and are directed to be registered by the sentencing judge, who are convicted of an equivalent offence and sentenced overseas, or who have been on an overseas register if they intend to reside in New Zealand.
The register is intended to provide information to a dedicated unit of staff, which will identify and manage the risk posed by convicted child sex offenders who have come to the end of their sentences, or are serving non-custodial sentences.