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Every five years, the New Zealand government reports to the United Nations about how New Zealand has implemented the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (the Children's Convention). The Children's Convention set outs universal rights for children and young people worldwide, overseen by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.
MSD has published the Sixth Periodic Report by the Government of New Zealand 2021 on the Children's Convention. MSD is now inviting feedback from the public, including children and young people, and well as stakeholders who advocate for the rights of children and young people.
The closing date to make a submission is 31 August 2021.
The draft report set outs the government's responses to the UN Committee's List of Issues Prior to Reporting (LOIPR). This list asks the Government to detail actions taken to implement the Children's Convention and to address recommendations from the previous reporting period. MSD has also published an Overview of issues covered in the Draft Report.
MSD welcomes submissions from:
- children and young people
- forums that operate on behalf of children and young people
- iwi and Māori engagement forums, particularly those that work with tamariki and rangatahi Māori
- parents
- interested individuals
- experts
- non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
- professionals who work with children.
You can give feedback through:
- an online survey
- send written feedback by email to uncroc@msd.govt.nz
- send written feedback by post to Children’s Convention Survey, PO Box 1556, Wellington 6140.
The draft report is available in alternate formats on the MSD website.
See our related news stories below for information about the previous reporting period.
Related information
The Office of the Children's Commissioner (OCC) is responsible for raising awareness and understanding of the Children's Convention and advancing and monitoring how the Government applies the Convention to improve outcomes for children. The OCC coordinates the Children's Convention Monitoring Group. The Monitoring Group has published a series of reports on Getting it Right.
In 2019 the Government launched the Child and Youth Wellbeing Strategy and a Programme of Action was also published which sets out the policies, initiatives, programmes and plans the Government will deliver over the next 1-5 years, to achieve the vision and outcomes of the Strategy.
Related news
The Education Review Office (ERO) published the report Learning in residential care: They knew I wanted to learn in July 2021. In their media release, the Education Review Office said "...that education for children and young people living in Oranga Tamariki residential care facilities is not good enough."
Also in July, the ERO published Te Kura Huanui: The treasures of successful pathways, a report highlighting the success of Māori medium education in achieving outstanding educational outcomes for Māori.
In an interview with E-Tangata, Justice Joe Williams talks about the way in which te Kōhanga Reo, Kura Kaupapa Māori and Ngā Kura ā Iwi have transformed not only educational outcomes but also social outcomes for Māori:
“The causal connection between kura, kōhanga, wānanga and all of that, and the fall-off in Māori incarceration and Māori removals is, in my view, direct. We know we can make this work because we actually have.”
The New Zealand Productivity Commission - Te Kōmihana Whai Hua o Aotearoa has been asked by the Government to conduct an inquiry into the drivers of persistent disadvantage within people’s lifetimes and across generations. The Commission is asking for public feedback to help develop the Terms of Reference for the inquiry.
The closing date to give feedback is 27 August 2021.
The inquiry, A fair chance for all: Breaking the disadvantage cycle, will take an in-depth look at who gets stuck in persistent disadvantage, and what can be done to help break the cycle of that disadvantage. The inquiry has three goals:
- "creating a clear, coherent and accessible summary of the trends in economic inclusion and social mobility in New Zealand, including the links between reducing persistent disadvantage and higher productivity, economic performance and wellbeing;
- undertaking significant research to generate new insights about people facing persistent disadvantage in New Zealand; and
- assessing what works and developing policy recommendations for breaking the cycle of that disadvantage."
Commission Chair, Ganesh Nana said “We are keen to kōrero with a broad range of people, groups and communities to help shape this important mahi. The Commission looks forward to hearing the insights and advice from those who work across the range of social support services and education sectors, as well as iwi, Māori, and Pacific groups, and many others.”
In a Stuff article, the Productivity Commission wrote:
"In order to thrive, people need a sense of identity and belonging, community, opportunity and financial resources. Without these, people can face disadvantage; mental health issues, loneliness, a lack of basic material necessities and poverty which make it very difficult for them to reach their potential. Particular life events and circumstances can trigger disadvantage, such as illness, disability, redundancy, or becoming the victim of violence or crime.
Many people stuck in persistent disadvantage experience multiple interrelated challenges, including unemployment, insecure or poor quality housing, poor educational and health outcomes, or drug and alcohol dependence. These factors can have a cumulative impact on their life opportunities and wellbeing. Disadvantage can be passed on for generations, making it even harder to escape."
The Commission has published a consultation paper that sets out what they mean by persistent disadvantage and what we currently know about disadvantage in Aotearoa New Zealand.
You can give feedback by:
- answering 4 questions online
- writing and uploading a submission to the Commission website
The Consultation paper also notes that "The Commission is also looking to meet with a range of stakeholder groups."
Right now, the Commission is asking for feedback to develop the Terms of Reference which will define the scope and focus of the inquiry. The Terms of Reference will be presented to Cabinet in November 2021. Once approved, the Commission will then have 12 months for the inquiry and will present the findings and recommendations to Government. There will be further opportunities to give feedback for the inquiry.
You can contact the Commission on (04) 903 5167 or info@productivity.govt.nz.
For more information about the links between family violence and disadvantage, see our related news stories below and search our library under the quick topic Socio-economic factors.
Related media
Benefit sanctions: Study reveals many unaware cuts can be challenged, RNZ, 09.08.2021
A fair chance for all: The story of disadvantage in New Zealand, The Spinoff, 21.07.2021
Productivity Commission seeks public's views on 'persistent disadvantage', Stuff, 19.07.2021
Society hurt by persistent disadvantage, Waatea News, 19.07.2021
This is the first population-based prevalence research exploring experiences of intimate partner violence (IPV) among disabled people in Aotearoa New Zealand. The researchers also explored prevalence rates of non-partner violence among disabled people.
Researchers from the University of Auckland used data from the 2019 New Zealand Family Violence Survey, which surveyed more than 2800 women and men. The findings were published in two open access articles in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
In the first article, Lifetime Prevalence of Intimate Partner Violence and Disability: Results From a Population-Based Study in New Zealand (2021), the researchers report that people who had at least one disability were more likely to report IPV in their lifetime than people who did not have a disability, for both women and men. This finding was true for all types of violence included in the survey (physical IPV, sexual IPV, psychological IPV, controlling behaviours and economic IPV). Other key findings include:
- Women with at least one disability reported lifetime prevalence rates of 40.3% for physical IPV, 16.9% for sexual IPV, 60.3% for psychological IPV, 31.7% for controlling behaviours and 24.7% for economic IPV.
- Men with at least one disability reported lifetime prevalence rates of 47.3% for physical IPV, 5.0% for sexual IPV, 51.2% for psychological IPV, 24.7% for controlling behaviours and 19.8% for economic IPV.
- People with a psychological disability reported the highest prevalence rates for almost all types of IPV. People with intellectual impairments also reported high rates of IPV.
- Women with a disability reported higher rates of experiencing sexual IPV (16.9%) than men with a disability (5.0%).
- Men with intellectual disabilities reported higher rates of physical IPV (60.5%) than women with intellectual disabilities (36.0%).
In the second article, Prevalence of Nonpartner Physical and Sexual Violence Against People With Disabilities (2021), the researchers report that people with at least one disability were more likely to report experiencing non-partner physical violence and sexual violence than people without disabilities. Other key findings include:
- Regardless of disability status, men were more likely to report non-partner physical violence, and women were more likely to report non-partner sexual violence.
- Men with disabilities reported high rates of physical violence by non-partners (56%), compared to men without disabilities (38%).
- Men were the main perpetrators of non-partner violence against both men and women. For women with disabilities, the main perpetrators of non-partner physical violence were family members, including parents and relatives. For men with disabilities, strangers were the main perpetrators.
- Of people who had experienced non-partner sexual violence, 60.0% of men with disabilities and 43.5% of women with disabilities, did not seek informal or formal help.
The researchers write in the article on Lifetime Prevalence of Intimate Partner Violence and Disability:
"Both prevention and response services need to be equipped with the knowledge and resources to address intersectional issues, such as the overlapping nature of gender, ethnicity, and disability. This is imperative because women had higher proportions of disability than men, and Maori had higher proportions of disability than people of other ethnicities. In addition, the gendered nature of violence needs consideration because women tend to be subjected to more severe and frequent IPV, with greater impacts in terms of injuries and fear."
Lead Researcher, Associate Professor Janet Fanslow, commented that the study "highlights the need to develop and support violence prevention and response programmes that are accessible and appropriate for everyone." She further said “Prevention and response services also need to be equipped with the knowledge and resources to respond to multiple circumstances that can increase the risk of violence occurring, particularly gender and disability."
The researchers note that prevalence rates may be underestimated because only people living in their own homes were surveyed. This did not include people living in residential services or retirement homes, or people who required support to communicate.
These articles are part of a series highlighting findings from the NZ Family Violence Survey. The other articles explored prevalence rates of IPV, sexual violence and abuse trends, and impacts of adverse childhood experiences. See the related news stories below for more information.
Find more information about family and sexual violence statistics and how to interpret them on our website.
Related news and research
The Ministry of Justice published data from the New Zealand Crime and Victims Survey Cycle 3 in June 2021 which also found that adults with disability have a higher risk of experiencing both sexual assault and intimate partner violence during their lifetime, especially when accounting for age.
A report released in July 2021, Negotiating Multiple Identities: Intersecting Identities among Māori, Pacific, Rainbow and Disabled Young People uses data from the Youth19 study to explore the wellbeing of Aotearoa secondary school students with the following identities:
- Rainbow rangatahi Māori
- Pacific Rainbow young people
- Rangatahi Māori with a disability or chronic condition
- Pacific young people with a disability or chronic condition
- Rainbow young people with a disability or chronic condition
- Young people who are both Māori and Pacific.
The report’s authors comment that “This report will shed light on the importance of understanding the way in which intersectionality impacts on the rangatahi of those across various intersectionalities – which, in turn can be used to better support future generations.”
In April 2021, the Australian Bureau of Statistics published research drawing on data from the 2016 Australian Personal Safety Survey and supplementary data sources about experiences of violence, partner violence and emotional abuse, sexual harassment and stalking for persons living with disability. In March 2021, the Australian Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability published the research report Nature and extent of violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation against people with disability in Australia (2021).
UN Women published two resources addressing gender-based violence for women and girls with disabilities. COVID-19, gender, and disability checklist: Preventing and addressing gender-based violence against women, girls, and gender non-conforming persons with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic (2021) is designed for State governments, gender-based violence support service providers, and other stakeholders to prevent and respond to gender-based violence against women, girls, and gender non-conforming persons with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic and other emergencies. Women, girls, and gender non-conforming people with disabilities: Know your rights! (2021) is a user-friendly guide for women with disabilities across the globe to understand their rights in accessing support when experiencing gender-based violence and to enable them to advocate for their rights. These documents are part of a series of publications from UN Women on women and girls with disabilities.
Related Media
Shine A Light On Disability And Violence, Press Release: White Ribbon, Scoop, 13.12.2021
The unnoticed epidemic of violence and abuse against disabled people, Stuff, 01.10.2021
Forty percent of disabled women experience family violence, research shows, RNZ, 22.07.2021
Disabled young women face double the risk of sexual violence, The Guardian, 15.03.2021
The Government is asking for feedback about Aotearoa New Zealand's adoption laws and systems to help inform how the laws should change.
The closing date to give feedback is 31 August 2021.
The review is asking for feedback on six key issues:
- what is adoption and who is involved
- cultural aspects of adoption (including whāngai)
- how the adoption process works in Aotearoa New Zealand and offshore
- the impacts of adoption
- how the adoption process works where a child is born by surrogacy.
The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) is leading the review. MOJ has published a Discussion Document on Adoption in Aotearoa New Zealand. The Discussion Document states:
"While practice has changed over time, the law is largely the same now as it was when it came into force, reflecting the values and attitudes of the 1950s. It doesn’t reflect modern adoption practices or fully align with the direction of domestic and international human rights obligations. It also fails to promote children’s rights in the adoption process, which can place their wellbeing at risk. There is no acknowledgement of a child’s culture, and the cultural needs and practices of those involved in the adoption process."
The Discussion document outlines 6 objectives for the review:
"1. To modernise and consolidate Aotearoa New Zealand’s adoption laws to reflect contemporary adoption processes, meet societal needs and expectations, and promote consistency with principles in child-centred legislation.
2. To ensure that children’s rights are at the heart of Aotearoa New Zealand’s adoption laws and practice, and that children’s rights, best interests and welfare are safeguarded and promoted throughout the adoption process, including the right to identity and access to information.
3. To ensure that adoption laws and practice meet our obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi and reflect culturally appropriate concepts and principles, in particular, tikanga Māori, where applicable.
4. To ensure appropriate support and information is available to those who require it throughout the adoption process and following an adoption being finalised, including information about past adoptions.
5. To improve the timeliness, cost and efficiency of adoption processes where a child is born by surrogacy, whilst ensuring the rights and interests of those children are upheld.
6. To ensure Aotearoa meets all of its relevant international obligations, particularly those in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption."
Oranga Tamariki will work closely with MOJ and other agencies on the review. The Oranga Tamariki media release notes that "Oranga Tamariki plays a key role in the adoption process, from engaging with birth parents who want to place their child for adoption, to assessing and approving adoptive applicants seeking to adopt both domestically and intercountry, reporting to the Court and responding to requests for information from parties to an adoption."
The media release announcing the review noted that "Targeted engagement with specific communities, including people affected by adoption, will run alongside public engagement."
There will be a second round of consultation in mid-2022 to seek public views on proposals for reform.
The Discussion Document and a Summary Document are available on the MOJ website in alternate formats and different languages.
You can give feedback through:
- an online survey
- by email to adoptionlaw@justice.govt.nz
- Post feedback to: Adoption Law Reform, Ministry of Justice, Free Post 113, PO Box 180, Wellington 6140
Related news
Te Aka Matua o te Ture | The Law Commission is reviewing law related to surrogacy in Aotearoa New Zealand. MOJ noted that "As part of this review, the Commission will look at how the adoption process operates in surrogacy arrangements and consider whether there should be a different process for intending parents to become legal parents." The Law Commission will be consulting with the public on surrogacy in August 2021. For more information see the Law Commission's Te Kōpū Whāngai: He Arotake | Review of Surrogacy website.
Update: The Law Commission has published the final report, Te Kōpū Whāngai: He Arotake | Review of Surrogacy (2022). The Commission concluded that surrogacy law is out of date and acknowledges a pressing need for reform. The report makes 63 recommendations to establish a new framework for determining legal parenthood in surrogacy arrangements and improve surrogacy law and practice.
In June 2021, the Social Security (Financial Assistance for Caregivers) Amendment Act 2021 was enacted to support caregivers looking after children outside of the state care system to access financial assistance.
Related media
Reconnecting adoptees to their taha Māori, Te Ao Māori News, 29.07.2021
Maori adoptions offer lessons for all, Waatea, 28.06.2021
Adoption law update looks at whāngai, Waatea News, 21.06.2021
New Zealand's adoption laws under review, public consultation announced, NZ Herald, 18.06.2021
E Tū Whānau organises annual music and film kaupapa focused on promoting positive change.
New E Tū Whānau Spoken Word Competition
This year, they are launching the inaugural E Tū Whānau Spoken Word Competition on 19 July 2021. People of all ages are invited to submit an original spoken word piece.
The theme for the competition is Ngā Moemoeā – Hopes and dreams for my world, my future, my whānau. E Tū Whānau is inviting entries that voice people’s dreams, and inspire others by calling for positive change.
E Tū Whānau said "Spoken Word creates a space for whānau voices to be front and centre, to tell their own stories and share their dreams for the future." Spoken word poet Te Kahu Rolleston is championing the kaupapa.
The closing date to enter the competition is 13 August 2021.
There are two competition categories:
- Rangatahi for young people 18 years and under
- Open Entry for people 19 years and older.
Entries must be original and show a connection to the E Tū Whānau kaupapa, and the competition theme: Ngā Moemoeā – Hopes and dreams for my world, my future, my whānau. Entries can be in any language, but must be no more than 3 minutes in length.
For more information see the E Tū Whānau website and follow the E Tū Whānau Facebook page.
Update: E Tū Whānau has announced the winners of the Spoken Word Competition 2021.
E Tū Whānau Rangatahi Film Challenge
The 2021/22 Rangatahi Film Challenge is now accepting entries. The challenge is an opportunity for rangatahi to tell their story about what it means to be rangatahi Māori and have their film screen at the next Māoriland Film Festival. The Film Challenge is open to rangatahi Māori aged 12 – 24. Films must be no longer than five minutes and respond to one of E Tū Whānau’s values – aroha, whakapapa, whanaungatanga, kōrero awhi, tikanga and mana manaaki.
Each year E Tū Whānau partners with Māoriland to run the film competition and offer filmmaking workshops for rangatahi across the motu each year. This year workshops are being held in Ōtaki, New Plymouth, Hawera, Ōpōtiki, Whakatāne and Kaitaia.
For more information see the E Tū Whānau Rangatahi Film Challenge on the Māoriland website or follow Ngā Pakiaka on Facebook. Ngā Pakiaka is the rangatahi leadership group of the Māoriland Charitable Trust. They are at the centre of Te Uru Maire – the Māoriland Rangatahi Strategy and are responsible for the Māoriland Rangatahi Film Festival and workshops.
You can view the winning films from last year's E Tū Whānau Rangatahi Film Challenge.
Related media
Talent behind E Tū Whānau spoken word competition no fluke, Stuff, 27.08.2021
Slam poet Te Kahu Rolleston, RNZ, 22.07.2021
Announcing the 2021 E Tū Whānau Rangatahi Film Award winners, Waatea News, 26.03.2021
Talented Northland teens donate $50,000 waiata prize to charity, Northern Advocate, 24.02.2021
The first consultation is focused on strengthening social cohesion. The second consultation is focused on proposals addressing incitement of hatred and discrimination - sometimes called hate speech.
The closing date to give feedback for both consultations is
6 August 2021.
Update: The consultation on social cohesion closing date has been extended to 31 October 2021.
Both consultations are part of the Government's response to recommendations from the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the terrorist attack on Christchurch masjidain (mosques).
When announcing the consultations Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment, Priyanca Radhakrishnan said “Our diversity extends across ethnicity, culture, gender identities and expressions, religion, values and beliefs, ages, disabilities, sexual orientation, and the structure of our families."
Minister for Justice Kris Faafoi said “The context for creating a socially cohesive society in Aotearoa New Zealand is underpinned by Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Te Ao Māori perspectives and the Māori-Crown relationship.
“Building social cohesion, inclusion and valuing diversity can also be a powerful means of countering the actions of those who seek to spread or entrench discrimination and hatred.”
Update: In August 2024, the government announced the conclusion of the coordinated cross-government response to the Royal Commission’s Report into the Terrorist Attack on the Christchurch Mosques. Of the Royal Commission report recommendations, 36 have been implemented and 8 will not be progressing. Find information on the progress and decisions for all 44 recommendations in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet | Te Tari o Te Pirimia Me Te Komiti Matua summary March 15 Royal Commission of Inquiry Recommendations Implementation Status.
Social cohesion consultation
The consultation on social cohesion is being led by the Ministry of Social Development (MSD). MSD is asking for feedback through an online survey about strengthening social cohesion in Aotearoa New Zealand and building a safer, more tolerant and inclusive society.
The background to the survey states:
"Social cohesion is about enabling everyone to belong, participate and have confidence in our public institutions. The Royal Commission acknowledged that while there is a lot of government activity in this area, there isn’t a purposeful and overarching strategy and action plan that shows what the government is trying to achieve, what work is being done and the areas for improvement. They also noted that the voices of communities, civil society, local government, and the private sector have been missing from this work."
The survey asks questions in 4 areas:
"1. What does social cohesion mean to you and what would Aotearoa New Zealand look like if social cohesion was improved?
2. How will we know if we are making progress? What does success look like?
3. We have done a review of the research about what works to strengthen social cohesion – this is summarised as the six ways of building social cohesion. We are keen to know whether these six ways look right to you and whether there are other things that might work.
4. What actions should government take or support to build better social cohesion, and who could be involved in the work?"
The survey is available online in 13 languages and alternate formats including large print, easy read, NZ Sign Language video and an audio version.
You can also provide written feedback by:
- emailing social_cohesion@msd.govt.nz
- writing to Ministry of Social Development, Attn: Social cohesion team, PO Box 1556, Wellington 6140.
Update: The Government has launched Te Korowai Whetū Social Cohesion strategic framework and community fund. The strategic framework outlines actions and outcomes to achieve a central vision of social cohesion in Aotearoa New Zealand. Resources are also available including information sheets, a summary of feedback, a baseline report and a measurement framework. Advocate Anjum Rahman has written article calling for the social cohesion framework to be applied to government first. Minister Radhakrishnan also announced a $2 million community fund to support local and community-based social cohesion initiatives. Te Korowai Whetū Social Cohesion community fund is being administered by the Ministry of Social Development. For more information see the cabinet papers related to strengthening social cohesion in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Proposals against incitement of hatred and discrimination consultation
This consultation is being led by the Ministry of Justice (MOJ). The MOJ consultation webpage states that "An important part of achieving social cohesion is to stand against conduct and language that harms people. We are stronger because of our diversity. Experiences of hatred can make people feel unsafe and unwelcome in the places they should feel at home."
The MOJ Discussion Document explains that the proposals in this consultation relate specifically to speech that incites hatred against a group. It notes
"The proposals and the current provisions in the Human Rights Act focus on speech that ‘incites hatred’ in other people towards a group. Speech that ‘incites hatred’ is abusive or threatening speech that stirs up hostility towards a group of people (rather than being directed at one person) based on a common characteristic they share."
The discussion document further explains that:
" ‘Hate speech’ is a broad term that is not used in Aotearoa New Zealand law. It is generally defined as speech that attacks an individual or group based on a common characteristic, for example ethnicity, religion, or sexuality."
The consultation is asking for feedback on 6 proposals. The proposals focus on strengthening parts of existing law that protect groups from speech that incites hatred and improving protections against discrimination. The MOJ consultation states "The incitement of hatred against a group based on a shared characteristic, such as ethnicity, religion or sexuality, is an attack on our values of inclusiveness and diversity. Such incitement is intolerable and has no place in our society."
The 6 proposals relate to:
"1. Changing the language in the incitement provisions in the Human Rights Act 1993 so that they protect more groups that are targeted by hateful speech
2. Replacing the existing criminal provision in the Human Rights Act 1993 with a new criminal offence in the Crimes Act 1961 that is clearer and more effective
3. Increasing the punishment for the criminal offence to better reflect its seriousness
4. Changing the language of the civil incitement provision to match the changes being made to the criminal provision
5. Changing the civil provision so that it makes ‘incitement to discriminate’ against the law
6. Adding to the grounds of discrimination in the Human Rights Act to clarify that trans, gender diverse and intersex people are protected from discrimination."
The purpose of the proposals is to:
"-Increase the number of groups of people that are protected by the incitement provisions, such as religious groups and rainbow communities
-Make it clearer what behaviour the law prohibits and increase the consequences for breaking the law
-Improve the protections for groups against wider discrimination."
Feedback from this consultation will be used to give advice to Ministers about if and how to change the laws.
MOJ has published a discussion document and summary document in different languages and alternate formats. The consultation webpage also has links to Cabinet Papers.
You can give feedback
- through an online survey
- by emailing humanrights@justice.govt.nz, or
- by post to Human Rights, Ministry of Justice, SX10088, Wellington.
Update: The Ministry of Justice received more than 19,000 submissions during this consultation. The Ministry of Justice published Proposals against incitement of hatred and discrimination: summary of submissions and Making Aotearoa safer and more inclusive targeted engagement: summary of engagement. In November 2022, Justice Minister Kiri Allan announced that a bill would be introduced to make changes to the Human Rights Act to extend protections to religious belief. Minister Allan also announced that the Government has asked Te Aka Matua o te Ture - The Law Commission to undertake a "...review of legal responses to hate-motivated offending, and of speech that expresses hostility towards, or contempt for, people who share a common characteristic. This will include whether further protections should be afforded to specific groups, including the Rainbow and disabled communities." Minister Allan said “Until the Law Commission has done that work, there will be no changes to the definition of groups protected from discrimination, or any changes to how the existing legal regime against incitement operates in terms of thresholds, offences or penalties, as originally proposed.”
Update: The government has released feedback from the submissions from the incitement and hate speech law consultation.
Related Aotearoa New Zealand resources and information on hate speech
The final report from the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the terrorist attack on Christchurch masjidain was publicly released in December 2020. Part 9, Chapter 4 of the final report looks at areas for improvement in New Zealand's legal framework and Police practice to address hate crime and hate speech. In addition, the Royal Commission also published a paper about the concepts of hate speech and hate crime, New Zealand’s current laws and proposals for change.
The New Zealand Human Rights Commission is encouraging all New Zealanders to participate in the consultation. In December 2019 the Commission published a resource on the legal framework governing hate speech - Korero Whakamauāhara: Hate Speech. The resource includes definitions of hate speech and outlines the legal framework in New Zealand and overseas.
Netsafe published research in 2019 about the personal experiences of adult New Zealanders in relation to online hate speech, and comparisons to Australia and Britain.
Related news
The new Ministry for Ethnic Communities was launched on 1 July 2021. The Ministry will continue to deliver the work of the Office of Ethnic Communities, but will build additional functions and influence across the public sector. The media release noted that the priorities of the new Ministry will be:
- "Promoting the value of diversity and improving the inclusion of ethnic communities in wider society
- Ensuring government services are accessible and for ethnic communities
- Improving economic outcomes for ethnic communities, including addressing barriers to employment
- Connecting and empowering ethnic community groups."
The new Ministry is one of the Government's initiatives in response to the recommendations to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Terrorist Attack on Christchurch Masjidain. For more information see the new Ministry's website: www.ethniccommunities.govt.nz.
Related media
End to coordinated terror response ordered within weeks, Newsroom, 07.08.2024
Collins causes ‘shell-shock’ in small Christchurch hall, Newsroom, 03.08.2024
Hate speech law too narrow says Kerekere, Waatea News, 29.11.2022
Our rainbow community is under attack, I am asking you to pay attention, Stuff, 27.11.2022
Shaneel Lal: Hate speech ban should extend to queers, women and disabled, NZ Herald, 27.11.2022
A lot has changed since March 15, 2019 – but not enough, The Spinoff, 15.03.2022
‘We work in the grey’: Police grapple with hate crimes, Newsroom, 03.12.2021
Police improves our response to hate crime, NZ Police media release, 02.12.2021
UK study shows link between domestic violence and radicalisation risk, Reuters, 25.11.2021
The makings of a terrorist – and the people who tried to help him, Stuff, 11.09.2021
The potential dangers of pre-emptive anti-terrorist legislation, Stuff, 10.09.2021
Is NZ equipped to rehabilitate those who pose a risk of violent extremism?, Stuff, 10.09.2021
MPs accelerate new terrorism laws, despite protest from Greens and ACT, Stuff, 09.09.2021
Update: Due to Aotearoa's outbreak of Delta in the community, TOAH-NNEST has postponed the bi-annual National Sexual Violence Conference. On the 15 November 2021, TOAH-NNEST will hold a virtual summit to give an opportunity to connect and progress their collective vision of Kua Ea – total elimination of mahi tūkino/sexual violence. On 28-29 March 2022, TOAH-NNEST will host the conference “Ka tūhonohono, ka ānga whakamua” (coming together, moving forward) will be held at Te Papa, Pōneke Wellington.
According to organisers TOAH-NNEST, the theme for the conference is "Ka tūhonohono, ka anga whakamua – Coming together, moving forward – and is based around the well-known whakataukī:
“Nāku te rourou nāu te rourou ka ora ai te iwi”.
“With your basket and my basket, we will sustain everyone”.
The TOAH-NNEST call for proposals notes:
"This whakataukī acknowledges that shared accountability within communities is important because through working together, we can achieve more than we would alone.
The kaupapa of the conference is to bring those working in the mahi tūkino (sexual violence) sector together to whanaungatanga (build relationships), workshop, share knowledge and be informed from specialists in this sector. As an organisation, TOAH-NNEST is founded upon Te Tiriti o Waitangi, the belief that the mahi cannot be done alone and that we must work collaboratively to achieve the total elimination of mahi tūkino."
In particular, proposals are sought that reflect:
- "Kia kaha, Kia maia, Kia manawanui – Be Strong, Be Brave, Be Steadfast
We are seeking exciting and inspiring ideas, approaches, responses to prevention, healing, justice, and community leadership among Māori and Tauiwi. - He waka eke noa – We’re all in this together
We are looking for ideas that can help focus our collective efforts and actions for change to end mahi tūkino."
TOAH-NNEST is seeking presentations and workshops that include an understanding of Te Ao Māori and reflect the diversity of those impacted by mahi tūkino, writing:
"It is hoped that this years’ Conference will provide a unique convergence of networking, learning, inspiring cultural practice, discussions, conversations, and increased knowledge and experience, alongside new and renewed connections."
Proposals should be detailed and can be submitted for one of the following:
- 5 minute oral presentation (including 5min Q&A)
- 50 minute oral presentation (including 5min Q&A)
- 50 minute interactive workshop
For more information see the call for proposals or email svconference2021@toah-nnest.org.nz to request the call for proposals.
Proposals must be submitted by 6 August 2021 to the conference email address svconference2021@toah-nnest.org.nz.
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Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga – the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development is seeking feedback to help develop the Government Policy Statement on Housing and Urban Development (GPS-HUD).
The consultation closes on 30 July 2021.
The GPS-HUD will set out the Government's long-term vision for Aotearoa New Zealand's housing and urban development system, and how the Government will work with others to make it happen. It will affect government policy, investment and programmes of work. This will be the first GPS-HUD.
The Government has proposed:
- a vision that "everyone in Aotearoa New Zealand lives in a healthy, secure and affordable home that meets their needs, within a thriving, inclusive and sustainable community"
- four outcomes including thriving communities, wellbeing through housing, partnering for Māori housing and urban solutions, and an adaptive and responsive system
- six focus areas.
The six focus areas include:
- Provide homes that meet people’s needs
- Ensure that more affordable houses are being built
- Support resilient, sustainable, inclusive and prosperous communities
- Invest in Māori-driven housing and urban solutions
- Prevent and reduce homelessness
- Re-establish housing’s primary role as a home rather than a financial asset.
You can find more information on the Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga – the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development website including a brief GPS-HUD Summary, a one page summary and a discussion document.
You can give feedback through:
- an online survey
- downloading a word document with the questions from the survey
- email your feedback to hud_gps@hud.govt.nz
For more information see the Beehive media release.
For research and information about the links between family violence and housing, search our library under homelessness or housing.
Update: In September 2021, the government launched the Government Policy Statement on Housing and Urban Development.
Draft Māori Housing Strategy
Cabinet has also approved the development of a draft Māori Housing Strategy to replace the existing 2014 Māori Housing Strategy, He Whare Āhuru He Oranga Tāngata. The new Māori Housing Strategy will be developed in parallel with the GPS-HUD. Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga – the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Te Puni Kōkiri – the Ministry of Māori Development and Te Matapihi are working together with the Māori housing sector to develop the new Māori Housing Strategy. This work includes plans to host a series of hui to engage with Iwi and Māori housing organisations. The Strategy is expected to be provided to Cabinet for endorsement in August 2021. For more information email TKKOadmin@hud.govt.nz.
Update: In September 2021, the government launched MAIHI Ka Ora - National Māori housing strategy.
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The Government has asked the Productivity Commission to prepare the Terms of Reference for a new inquiry into the drivers and dynamics of long-term disadvantage in people’s lifetimes and across generations. The Productivity Commission website states there are three purposes for the inquiry:
- "creating a clear, coherent and accessible summary of the trends in economic inclusion and social mobility in New Zealand, including the links between reducing persistent disadvantage and higher productivity, economic performance and wellbeing;
- undertaking significant research to generate new insights about people facing persistent disadvantage in New Zealand; and
- assessing what works and developing policy recommendations for breaking the cycle of that disadvantage."
The Productivity Commission plans to consult on the Terms of Reference. To stay up to date with the inquiry, subscribe to the Productivity Commission's updates.
Update: The report, Nowhere to Go: The Benefits of Providing Long-Term Social Housing to Women that have Experienced Domestic and Family Violence (2021), was published by Australian-based Equity Economics.
Update: Te Kahu Tika Tangata / the Human Rights Commission announced that it will hold a national inquiry into housing and launched Framework Guidelines on the Right to a Decent Home in Aotearoa.
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The research focussed on online communication between boys and girls and was “framed within a broader context of gender equality and ethics”. It finds that boys are "caught in a net of confusing messages about how to be men" but also how, “given the opportunity to discuss and unpick these messages, boys’ curiosity and good intentions can be supported in ways that potentially free them up to contribute to more ethical and egalitarian norms for behaviour."
The findings from the research are presented in a new report, Shifting the Line (2021).
The research drew on peer group workshops with 54 secondary school boys and young men in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, which were designed to get boys and young men to think about gender, equality and ethics. The workshops and research sought to explore new ways of approaching prevention of sexual harassment, violence and abuse, as well as other forms of gendered violence. In the report background, the researchers discussed challenges to effective approaches to engaging boys and men in gender equality and violence prevention writing:
"One key point of contention concerns the efficacy and the risks of approaches that deliberately mobilise masculinity as a strategy to engage men as allies. This approach in essence calls upon men to be good men, by drawing on traditionally masculine qualities such as strength and protectiveness to effectively ‘man up’ to stop violence. While male allies and partners are important in the movement toward gender equality and preventing gender based violence, the problem with such approaches is that they implicitly, and sometimes explicitly, hold in place stereotypes of masculinity that are part of the problem. At best, they only scratch the surface of the degree of change that is needed, and miss a key element of requiring men to reflect on their own gendered position and the way that it sits within hierarchies of gendered power and privilege, as well as those of ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sexuality, ability, and so on."
The report outlines the researchers' approach to change, how the workshops were developed and findings from the workshops with boys and young men. Findings are presented in four areas:
- Masculine norms and their production
- Norms, ethics, and sending nudes
- Onsharing nudes and the art of intervening
- Conversations towards shifting the line
Key findings include that social norms and concepts about masculinity and what it means to be a man can be limiting and narrow. The boys and young men in the workshops recognised these norms and the limitations it places on them, but the research also found that they have limited opportunities to talk about these issues or explore alternatives. Peer groups were identified as powerful influencers on behaviour, which could reinforce negative and abusive behaviour, or provide opportunities and influence positive change.
Based on the findings, the researchers argue that "effective strategies to promote positive change and ethical behaviour should seek to transform collective norms and action, rather than targeting individual behavioural change."
They also recommend that work on positive change should focus on encouraging boys and young men to be 'ethical people' writing:
"Given the unhelpful, and in some cases dangerous, cultural baggage that traditional gender roles carry, we suggest it would be better to inspire boys and young men to be ethical people rather than ‘good men’."
They recommend a first step could be examining how concepts of gender influence structures and impact on peoples' experiences and opportunities.
In their key findings, they highlight that:
"Some boys and young men are interested in talking about these issues – and it is possible to create spaces that build on their curiosity and their commitment to fairness and equality, allowing them to critically reflect on gender norms and develop insights and skills that enhance their readiness to contribute to positive social change."
They note that this is preliminary model that can be used and adapted to promote ethical online behaviour and contribute to gender equality and violence prevention, and they recommend further research. Their final key point highlights that "Supporting even small numbers of boys and men to work together to become change agents has the potential to spark ripples of change that can shift norms of ethical behaviour among peers in the wider cultural context."
Lead researcher and University of Auckland Professor Nicola Gavey said:
“Peer groups are powerful sites for shaping behaviour. As we saw in the case of Roastbusters and all the cases that keep showing up in the media of groups of boys harassing and exploiting girls, peer groups can be hot houses for sexism and gendered harassment and abuse.
“But when peer groups are open to more flexible gender norms and share values around equality and respect, they can also be a powerful site for positive change and supporting ethical behaviour.”
The research was carried out by Nicola Gavey, Octavia Calder-Dawe, Kris Taylor, Jade Le Grice (Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa), Brandee Thorburn, Sam Manuela, Makarena Dudley (Te Rarawa, Te Aupōuri, Ngāti Kahu), Senuri Panditharatne, Riane Ross, Angela Carr and Robin Murphy.
More information about the research is available on the project website: www.shiftingtheline.ac.nz. There are plans to add the Workshop Guide, videos and other resources to the website.
Kris Taylor, one of the researchers, has been awarded an MBIE Science Whitinga Fellowship for research entitled: 'Boys Talk': Working with boys and young men towards the prevention of gender-based harassment and violence through a series of workshop interventions.
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Sexual harassment hits multi generations, with assaults also in primary schools, Stuff, 03.07.2021
Beneath the surface of sexual violence, Newsroom, 02.07.2021
Sexual consent education 'must be in every school', Marama Davidson says, One News, 30.06.2021
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Alison Mau: Rejecting the man-box will take some mahi from schools and parents, Stuff, 26.06.2021
Schools grappling with sex ed in changing world, Otago Daily Times, 26.06.2021
Sexual assault and fraud most under-reported crimes, new research shows, Stuff, 16.06.2021
'No means no': Christchurch students raise awareness about sexual violence, Stuff, 11.04.2021
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