Vine Quick Reads: 3 October 2025

Vine Quick Reads: 3 October 2025

Welcome to our Quick Reads format. Each week we share selected news bites relevant to family violence and sexual violence in Aotearoa.

UN call for input on the 2026 Thematic Report on Gender Equality

The UN Working Group on discrimination against women and girls is calling for inputs to the 2026 Thematic Report on Gender Equality, the Digital Space and the Age of Artificial Intelligence. The report will use a gendered lens to analyse existing approaches to AI at national and international levels and build understanding of AI’s intersection with other forms of digital technologies already impacting women and girls. The Working Group have provided questionnaires to inform submissions. Submissions are due by 31 October 2025.

New report on harmful sexual behaviour (HSB) in children

A new report has been published by Safer Futures Hub: Children displaying harmful sexual behaviours (HSB): Evidence and responses (2025). This report presents findings from an evidence review and stakeholder consultation across multiple regions and sectors, exploring how to better understand, prevent, and respond to HSB among children. For more, see a recording of the report’s launch webinar.

Ombudsmen opinion on the administration of children’s safety checks by Health New Zealand

The Ombudsman has found that Health NZ had not been following the vetting processes required under the Children’s Act 2014 and the Children’s (Requirements for Safety Checks of Children's Workers) Regulations 2015. An investigation was initiated by the Ombudsman after concerns were raised by a hospital whistle-blower. The Ombudsman has also released a short video discussing the case. For an overview of the opinion, see the Ombudsman’s media release and for more on the matter, see Mana Mokopuna Children’s Commissioner’s media release.

Applications are open for Indigidata 2025

Applications are open for Indigidata 2025, a six-day residential programme aiming to build capacity amongst Māori in Māori data science, Māori data sovereignty, Māori data ethics and Māori data applications. Applicants will be considered from among Māori tauira in any discipline, kaimahi Māori, and Māori with strong iwi, hapu, community or business connections. Indigidata 2025 will run from 23-28 November 2025, organised by Te Mana Raraunga in partnership with Te Kotahi Research Institute, Genomics Aotearoa, Indigidata and TAIAO. Applications close Sunday 12 October 2025.