今天是O少16歲生日!

16歲，在我們中國人眼裡，還是個半大不小的孩子。但在紐西蘭可就不一樣囉！根據紐西蘭公民諮詢局(Citizens Advice Bureau)提供的資訊，年滿16歲，可享有的法定權利如下: 

※ 不經父母允許就可離家。但未滿17歲前，如果家庭和兒童、青少年組織認為有危險，該機構有權送你回家。(You can leave home without your parents’ consent – but until you’re 17, Child,Youth and Family can send you home if they think are “at risk”)

※ 經父母同意，或是經法院判決定(父母拒絕同意的情況下)，你可以結婚或是民事結合(通常指同性婚姻)。(You can get married or enter into a civil union with your parents’ consent- or with the Court’s consent if your parents refuse consent.)

※ 如果父母分居，你可以決定和誰住及何時探望另一方。(If your parents have split up, you can usually decide which one you want to live with and whether you want to visit the other one.)

※ 未經你個人同意，不能做任何醫學檢查和治療牙疾。(You can’t be made to undergo medical or dental treatment without your consent.)

※ 未經你個人同意，不能治療任何精神疾病，除非你必須接受強制治療。(You can’t be made to undergo treatment for mental disorder without your consent, unless you are under a compulsory treatment order.)

※ 你可以刺青。雖然很多刺青業者會要求未滿18歲者先獲得父母同意。(You can have a tattoo – although many tattooists will ask you to get your parents’ consent if you are under 18.)

※ 你可以離開學校。從六歲至十六歲為國民義務教育。(You can leave school - from age 6 to 16 school is compulsory.)

※ 學校可以開除你。未滿十六歲前，學校只能”拒絕”你上學，且校長必須努力為你找另一所學校就讀。(You can be expelled from school – until 16 you can only be “excluded” from school and the principal must try to find you another school.)

※ 你可以開始全職工作-適用青年最低工資。(You can start full-time work – minimum youth rates apply.)

※ 若父母無法撫養你，你也許有權申請未獨立青年補助。(You might be entitled to the independent Youth Benefit if your parents can’t support you.)

※ 若符合資格，你可以申請傷病補助。(You can claim an Invalid’s Benefit if you’re eligible.)

※ 你可以取得輕武器執照。(You can get a firearms licence.)

※ 法律上，你可有性行為。(You can legally consent to sexual intercourse)

※ 未經你同意，你父母不能正式更改你的姓名。(Your parents can’t formally change your name without your consent.)

其中幾項，讓我看得膽戰心驚。光是想到就覺得很可怕。不過O少天性懶散、少根筋，家裡又那麼舒服，我想他還沒那麼笨到想離家。至少光是沒人煮飯、洗衣服，就夠他受的了。Sweet Sixteen用在他身上，可能不合適，畢竟他是個粗枝大葉的傻小子。我只希望他平平安安、快快樂樂、按部就班地完成中學課業(當然還是希望成績別太差)，順利進入心目中理想大學(他說他的目標是奧克蘭大學Univ of Auckland)就讀，早日找到未來努力的方向和人生目標。其他的，一時間就想不了那麼多啦。 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, OLIVER!