Former Children's Commissioner John Angus has died at the age of 66.
Dr John Angus (left) being awarded his New Zealand Order of Merit by Governor-General Sir Jerry Mateparae. Photo: The Governor-General's office
He died in hospital in Clyde, Central Otago on Saturday after a short illness.
During his time as commissioner, from 2009 to 2011, Dr Angus took Child Youth and Family and other authorities to task for a lack of action over child neglect, which he called the commonest form of maltreatment.
He led work on preventing child abuse for the Taskforce on Action on Violence within Families.
In 2012 he was honoured as a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his work in the public sector since 1977, when he started as a social worker with the Department of Social Welfare.
He was the Ministry of Social Development's principal adviser from 2001 to 2006.