PRESCHOOL
At 3:
In most places, movies are no longer free. You now have to pay a child’s admission price for your little one.
SCHOOL AGE
At 5:
Bus trips are no longer free. They will now be charged a child fare.
Your child is entitled to start school.
At 6:
- Your child is legally obliged to be at school, unless you live more than 3km from the school, in which case they must start at seven.
At 10:
- They can be legally prosecuted for murder or manslaughter.
PRETEEN
At 12:
If they are called to testify in court, they have to take a formal oath. Under this age, they must only promise to tell the truth.
You now have to fork out the adult fare for them on flights. They can travel alone on international flights as an unaccompanied minor.
TEEN
At 14:
Your child can be left without adult supervision. They can also babysit younger children, as long as they are considered to be capable of reasonable supervision and care.
They are now old enough to be prosecuted for any criminal offence.
At 16:
Your teenager can sit their driving test and get their learner licence.
They can leave school and work full time. They are also old enough to be expelled from school (rather than excluded).
They are entitled to the minimum adult wage as long as they are not considered a new entrant or trainee.
They can leave home. But if Child, Youth and Family considers they are at risk, it can send them home until they turn 17.
Your teenager can apply for certain benefits, such as the Independent Youth Benefit and Invalid’s Benefit.
They can legally have sex. If they have treatment for a sexually transmitted disease, their doctor does not have to tell you.
They can get married or enter a civil union as long as they have your consent. As soon as they do that, you are no longer their legal guardian.
If you and their other parent split up, they can decide which of you they want to live with.
They can get a tattoo without your permission.
They can decide whether to agree to medical treatment or refuse it. They can’t be treated for mental disorders without their consent, unless they are under a compulsory treatment order.
They have to pay adult prices at the movies. They’re also considered adults by many bus companies, unless they are still a student and have a student ID card or are in school uniform.
They can apply for a firearms licence.
At 17:
Your child is old enough to get their full driving licence.
They can join the army, air force or navy.
Police can question them without you or another adult being present. If they are charged with a criminal offence, they will appear in the District Court, not the Youth Court.
Child, Youth and Family can no longer get an order for your child’s care and protection.
At 20, your child can legally enter a casino
YOUNG ADULT
At 18:
You are no longer your child’s legal guardian.
They can get married or enter a civil union without your consent.
They are no longer entitled to free dental care.
They can buy alcohol, cigarettes and tobacco.
They can join the police. They can also be employed in a bar or liquor store.
They can apply for the Unemployment Benefit, Domestic Purposes Benefit, Sickness Benefit or the Student Allowance.
They’re allowed to ask their bank for a cheque account, credit card or a loan.
They can place a bet at the TAB or a racecourse, and buy Instant Kiwi tickets (they can buy a Lotto ticket at any age).
They can buy fireworks.
They can vote and stand as a political candidate.
They can be called for jury service.
At 19:
They are no longer eligible for free education unless they have special needs.
If they’re adopted, they can prevent Births, Deaths and Marriages from giving their details to their birth parents.
At 20:
Although they were granted many adult rights when they turned 18, they aren’t officially regarded as an adult until now.
If they’re adopted, they can apply to Births, Deaths and Marriages for a copy of their pre-adoption birth certificate to find the names of their birth parents.
They can adopt a child related to them. They can’t adopt a non-relative until they’re 25, and the child has to be at least 20 years younger than them.
They can legally enter a casino.
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