研究这个问题的起点是一条相关的刑事法：Summary Offences Act 1981， s 10B，
“Every person is liable to a fine not exceeding $2,000 who, being a parent or guardian or a person for the time being having the care of a child under the age of 14 years, leaves that child, without making reasonable provision for the supervision and care of the child, for a time that is unreasonable or under conditions that are unreasonable having regard to all the circumstances.”
新西兰处理这方面的社会问题和刑事起诉的机构是Oranga Taramaki, 政府的部门， 原来叫 Ministry of Children (儿童部)， 现在 改成毛利名字， 意思一样。 因为只有他会起诉， 所以你看他的解释基本上就够了。
他的解释是这样的：
Parents or caregivers should always have an idea of where their tamariki are and what they’re up to. Depending on how whānau or family operate, caring for tamariki can be considered a collective responsibility. Older siblings or cousins are sometimes expected to be responsible for playing with or keeping an eye on the younger members of their whānau or family. At whānau or family gatherings or church, community or marae events, during the school holidays, and before and after school, tamariki can often play or explore their environment independently from adults.
Assessing supervisory neglect depends on many factors and doesn’t solely rely on the chronological age of 14. We need to take a commonsense approach within the context of the whānau or family lifestyle. It is reasonable to expect that tamariki living in a rural setting will have different expectations than a tamaiti living in an urban area. Our assessment needs to consider whether the parent or caregiver has considered individual and environmental factors such as:
age and maturity levels of tamariki, including any disabilities
how long they were left unsupervised and how te tamaiti feels about being on their own
how often this occurs
what discussions were had to manage emergencies, and whether they know how and who they can contact for help
what prearranged agreements were explored to cover ‘just in case’ situations – for example, ‘if you’re hungry, snacks are in the cupboard but don’t use the oven’ or ‘don’t pat or approach dogs in the park’
whether potential risks or hazards have been considered, such as busy roads, waterways, and how well known or safe the people in the neighborhood are.