Laura Dekka is a thirteen year old Dutch girl.
She was born on a yacht off the coast of New Zealand during a round the world trip undertaken by her now divorced Dutch father and German mother.
And now her father, who has custody of her, has applied to the authorities in the Netherlands for a two year leave of absence from school so that she can undertake a solo round the world yachting venture.
Now the child protection authorities in the Netherlands are seeking temporary custody of Laura to prevent this venture.
According to the Herald this morning Laura's lawyer is seeking a New Zealand passport for her which would short circuit this making the New Zealand authorities responsible for her welfare of course. I can't see that one flying. Apart from anything else my understanding is that under New Zealand law you can not leave a child under fourteen unattended and you certainly cannot conceive as anything more unattended than a thirteen year old girl by herself the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
Now I am all for kids spreading their wings as early as possible and nor do I like Governments interfering in decisions made by parents in regards to child rearing but somewhere there is a limit.
And call me an old fashioned stick in the mud but I think the limit has would be well and truly breached if this child were to undertake this voyage.
She was born on a yacht off the coast of New Zealand during a round the world trip undertaken by her now divorced Dutch father and German mother.
And now her father, who has custody of her, has applied to the authorities in the Netherlands for a two year leave of absence from school so that she can undertake a solo round the world yachting venture.
Now the child protection authorities in the Netherlands are seeking temporary custody of Laura to prevent this venture.
According to the Herald this morning Laura's lawyer is seeking a New Zealand passport for her which would short circuit this making the New Zealand authorities responsible for her welfare of course. I can't see that one flying. Apart from anything else my understanding is that under New Zealand law you can not leave a child under fourteen unattended and you certainly cannot conceive as anything more unattended than a thirteen year old girl by herself the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
Now I am all for kids spreading their wings as early as possible and nor do I like Governments interfering in decisions made by parents in regards to child rearing but somewhere there is a limit.
And call me an old fashioned stick in the mud but I think the limit has would be well and truly breached if this child were to undertake this voyage.