Raising the age of state care

Stuff reports:

Legislation to raise the age of state care to 18 has been introduced to Parliament, and a replacement for embattled state carer Child, Youth and Family is to be in place by March.  …

That included a brand new agency to replace CYF, and a law change to allow vulnerable children to remain in care until they are at least 18, with the option to remain fully in care until they are 21.

CYF children will also be able to choose whether they keep support services until they are 25. Currently they lose all support they day they turn 17.

WIth the benefit of hindsight it seems bizarre that the day a kid is no longer 16, they lose all support. The kids in care have often had a miserable time, and allowing some flexibility with when they transition to looking after themselves seems very sensible.