On the 24th of April 1915, the Ottoman Empire began systematic massacres and mass deportations of indigenous Armenians, killing between 1 and 1.5 million and displacing 100,000's more - over 90% of the Ottoman Armenian population.[1,2] Historians and genocide scholars overwhelmingly agree that the Ottoman Empire's actions constitute a genocide.[3] But over 100 years later, New Zealand still has not officially recognised this history.[4] By refusing to acknowledge the atrocities of the past, New Zealand sets a dangerous precedent. In the years after the Armenian Genocide, many European countries turned a blind eye and believed in Turkey's genocide denial, allowing a new wave of genocidal leaders to take charge.[5] Adolf Hitler himself justified his invasion of Poland in 1939 by saying, "Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?".[6] More recently, in 2022-3, Azerbaijan blockaded and invaded the ethnically Armenian territory of Artsakh and ethnically cleansed over 100,000 indigenous Armenians.[7,8] New Zealand's only response was to sign a joint statement in the UN expressing "deep concern" and (unsuccessfully) asking Azerbaijan to comply with international law.[9] When we do not acknowledge history, we are doomed to make the same mistakes and allow atrocities to continue around the world. Over 30 countries, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, France, Germany, Sweden, and Switzerland, as well as the European Parliament and Latin American Parliament, have all taken this essential step of formally recognising the Armenian Genocide.[10] How can New Zealand claim to be a world leader while falling behind on such a basic benchmark? Our government is doing a disservice not only to the Armenians of New Zealand but to everyone. If we don't have the spine to recognise a genocide from 1915, how are we to recognise and fight against genocide today? Together we must stand up for the truth. This Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, we call on New Zealand to formally recognise the Armenian Genocide and make a commitment to uphold its responsibility to the international community. References:  1. https://www.theguardian.com/news/2015/apr/16/the-armenian-genocide-the-guardian-briefing 2. https://www.britannica.com/question/What-were-the-consequences-of-the-Armenian-Genocide 3. https://genocidescholars.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Scholars-Denying-Armenian-Genocide-.pdf 4. https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/124109301/anzacs-and-atrocities-will-new-zealand-ever-recognise-the-armenian-genocide 5. https://www.armenian-genocide.org/recognition.html 6. https://genocideeducation.org/more-resources/hitler-and-the-armenian-genocide/ 7. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/22/inside-nagorno-karabakh-blockade-armenia-azerbaijan 8. https://freedomhouse.org/article/new-report-azerbaijani-regime-ethnically-cleansed-nagorno-karabakh-according-international 9. https://allinnet.info/news/a-joint-statement-regarding-the-situation-in-nagorno-karabakh-was-presented-at-the-un-human-rights-council/ 10. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenian_genocide_recognition Image: Armenian Deportees, November 1915. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Photo Archives. Courtesy of Sybil Stevens (daughter of Armin T. Wegner). Wegner Collection, Deutsches Literaturarchiv, Marbach & United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/photo/armenian-deportees

Aotearoa New Zealand should be a country where everyone can thrive and workers are respected and treated fairly. But right now migrant communities are left vulnerable by the profound power imbalance of our immigration system leaving them unprotected from exploitation. “"Every person in New Zealand, regardless of their visa status, deserves the right to safe work, decent pay, dignity and the freedom to speak up without the threat of deportation hanging over them. When your ability to stay in the country is controlled by your employer, raising concerns about safety or wage theft becomes a risky choice. This system is designed to silence people, leaving them isolated and at great risk of abuse."” — Mandeep Bela, President, Union Network of Migrants (UNEMIG) The 12-month stand-down period compounds this injustice by creating conditions that can destabilise families and increase migrants’ vulnerability. While some families may leave Aotearoa together when a visa ends, there are real situations where separation becomes unavoidable—particularly when one partner is able to secure employment and transition to a new visa, such as an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV), but cannot meet the requirements to support their dependents. At the same time, for those on capped or lower-skilled visa pathways, the pressure to avoid the stand-down period can drive migrants into precarious or informal arrangements with employers, increasing the risk of exploitation or agreements made solely to extend their stay. Rather than providing stability, the stand-down period reinforces uncertainty, undermines family unity, and places already vulnerable workers in situations where their rights and wellbeing may be compromised. This lack of fairness extends to rigid and overly high English testing standards, which often do not reflect a person's proven ability to communicate in day-to-day conversation to work, contribute, and integrate. When a migrant is already employed and performing their role safely and effectively — as a bus driver, for example, demanding they pass an academic English test for a further visa makes no sense. Fairness demands reasonable, role-appropriate requirements, not one-size-fits-all barriers. Previous Work-to-Residence (WTR) settings proved that a worker's experience should be sufficient proof of competency, allowing for employer letters to confirm English proficiency. VOICES FROM THE COMMUNITY: “On Tied Visas: “My boss knew I couldn’t leave. He charged me a premium for a job offer and paid me half of what was in my employment agreement. I felt completely powerless. I had to choose between speaking up and losing my visa or staying silent and watching my savings disappear while living in financial and emotional hardship. I felt invisible, like my dreams and my dignity didn't matter.”” — Mary (name changed for protection), former hospitality worker “On the Stand-Down Period: “We arrived with nothing but hope. For three years, we worked from dawn till dusk, saved every dollar, and our daughter, who was born here, is now 2 years old. My employer wants to keep me on, but AEWV conditions state that I must leave the country for a year after my visa ends. We live in constant anxiety about being torn away from the life we’ve built. Our hearts are breaking.”” — Maria and Michael (names changed), migrant workers “On English Language Requirements: “I have been driving buses in New Zealand for around 3 years. I know the routes, keep passengers safe, communicate with my depot and with passengers every single day. My employer has no issues with my work and performance and wants to keep me. But Immigration New Zealand requirements are that I must achieve an unreasonably high academic English test score which is very difficult for many migrants. It feels like a trap, not a fair requirement.”” — Raj (name changed for protection), bus driver currently working in New Zealand on a temporary visa CONCLUSION “"We have an opportunity to build an immigration system rooted in fairness and respect. By ending punitive policies and adopting reasonable standards, we can ensure New Zealand truly values the people who contribute their labour, their talents, and their lives to our country. Political parties must now show where they stand."” — Mandeep Bela, President, Union Network of Migrants (UNEMIG) We, the undersigned, call on all political parties to adopt these three asks in their immigration policies: Union Network of Migrants (UNEMIG) International Migrants Alliance (IMA) Aotearoa Migrante Aotearoa Migrant Action Trust Gabriela Aotearoa Soil of Cultures Anakbayan Aotearoa United Filipino Bus Drivers in New Zealand Filipino Careworkers United Migrant Rights Network NZ

Right now, our community is already enduring worsening air quality, and the Council is currently operating under an abatement notice for their ongoing failures at the plant. ​Instead of focusing 100% of their resources on fixing the root cause of the odour, the Council is spending millions of ratepayer dollars to investigate dumping partially treated wastewater directly into our ocean outfall. This is being looked at as a "Diversion Option" under their Pond Resilience Project.  ​We need to stop this for three main reasons: ​Trading One Crisis for Another: We cannot allow the Council to trade a devastating air quality crisis for a marine environmental disaster in Pegasus Bay. Pumping partially treated wastewater into our ocean is not a solution; it is a dangerous band-aid. ​Wasting Millions of Dollars: It is completely irresponsible to spend millions of dollars just to investigate a backup plan that the community vehemently opposes. That money needs to be spent on actual, permanent fixes at the plant itself. ​Enough is Enough for the East: The residents of Bromley and the surrounding areas have endured enough disruption and environmental stress. We are united in saying no to this outfall diversion, and we refuse to let this happen in our city. ​We need to send a loud, undeniable message to the Council before they vote on the Pond Resilience Project on April 1st. Sign this petition to demand they take the ocean outfall investigation off the table permanently and focus entirely on fixing the plant.   References [1] Christchurch City Council, "CWTP Odour Proposed Pond By-pass" briefing document, outlining the proposed secondary treatment bypass (Page 1). Available at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mydPWu6wWuGTF9NwmzmSj3EdTriFQxOm/view?usp=drivesdk  

The Iranian community has been following the news coming out of Iran with anxiety, dread and fear for our families and loved ones. Iranians have suffered immensely in recent years, whether as a result of dictatorship and oppression or now due to conflict and war[1,2,3]. The experience of watching atrocities, whether crimes against humanity committed by the Iranian Government or war crimes now taking place in Iran and harming Iranian civilians, have been traumatic and deeply troubling to Iranian New Zealanders. In this context, Iranian New Zealanders are desperately seeking ways to support their loved ones, uphold their right to life and support their safety in any way that they can. The ability to sponsor loved ones would make a meaningful difference to the well-being of Iranians living in New Zealand, and provide a lifeline to those caught up in violence. The New Zealand Government has demonstrated its capability in addressing urgent humanitarian crises in the response to the war in Ukraine and through establishing a special visa category[4]. The Iranian community seeks a similar opportunity to aid their loved ones, and is ready, willing and able to commit to any formal undertaking necessary, agreeing to be responsible for their maintenance, accommodation and other relevant costs. In addition, Iranians have faced deep hardship as parents wait years in the Parent Resident Visa ballot while conditions in Iran grow more dangerous and unstable. Elderly parents lack safety and support, and long delays cause serious emotional and mental strain. We also urgently seek prioritisation for Iranian parents currently awaiting confirmation of the status of their Resident Visa applications.  Lastly, we are also seeking blanket automatic extensions for Iranians currently in New Zealand on temporary visas, as returning to Iran under these conditions places these Iranians in great danger. Call to Action: If you would like to help, please sign and share this petition with your friends and family, together we can make sure that the government supports our community and families can be reunited. References: [1]https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/campaigns/2026/01/what-happened-at-the-protests-in-iran/  [2] https://www.amnesty.org/en/petition/end-protest-massacres-in-iran/  [3] https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2026/03/urgent-call-to-protect-civilians-and-respect-international-law-amid-escalating-regional-conflict-following-us-and-israeli-attacks-on-iran/  [4] https://www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/news-centre/special-ukraine-visa/ 

The importance of effective violence prevention cannot be overstated: for example, around a third of women in Aotearoa NZ have experienced sexual violence [8] and many more experience non-sexual relationship violence. We need to use all the tools we can to change such entrenched violence.  Thank you for signing and sharing this petition with friends and whānau, in solidarity with all rangatahi, women and targeted groups. Together, we can hold politicians accountable and ensure our young people receive the respect and care they need to flourish.    References [1] 2020 Relationships & Sexuality Education guidelines, Years 1-8: https://insideout.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RSE_1_to_8_2.pdf  Years 9-13: https://insideout.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RSE_9_to_13_2.pdf  [2] Consultation on Proposed Health & PE Curriculum including Relationships & Sex Education, closes 24 April 2026. https://newzealandcurriculum.tahurangi.education.govt.nz/new-zealand-curriculum-online/new-zealand-curriculum/learning-areas/health-and-physical-education-curriculum/5637165585.c  Everyone - students, parents, teachers, members of the community - can make their own submission. See Auckland Women’s Centre submission guide here: https://awc.org.nz/2026-rse-submission-guide/ [3] For example, 24 organisations and experts sent an open letter to Minister Stanford in May 2025, criticising the exclusion of gender diversity. https://sexualwellbeing.org.nz/consortium-of-informed-voices-sends-open-letter-on-relationships-and-sexuality-education-to-minister-stanford/ To our knowledge, the Minister has never engaged with the signatories regarding their concerns. Auckland Women’s Centre (and other organisations) have also written to the Minister, and already given feedback on an earlier draft – Auckland Women’s Centre’s submission here: https://awc.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/AWC-to-Minister-Stanford-re-RSE-framework-.pdf The feedback report on the first round of consultation (May 2025) is here:  https://files-au-prod.cms.commerce.dynamics.com/cms/api/qwxsnqcpfm/binary/MLeDUE   [4] Submission re RSE, May 2025, from AP Jade Le Grice, Morgan Tupaea, and Fern Smith, researchers at Te Pūtahi o Pūtaiao | Centre for Kaupapa Māori Science, University of Auckland  [5] Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa media release on the government’s second draft RSE October 2025 https://sexualwellbeing.org.nz/new-curriculum-regressive-and-fractured/ [6] Backbone Collective May 2025 submission https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57d898ef8419c2ef50f63405/t/685874c7e0c5475c87cbe718/1750627527977/RSE+draft+framework+questionnaire+and+letter+to+Minister+of+Education+Erica+Stanford+9+May+Backbone+Collective+%281%29.pdf [7] Education Review Office (2024) Technical report: Review of relationships and sexuality education:.https://www.evidence.ero.govt.nz/documents/technical-report-review-of-relationships-and-sexuality-education [8] NZ Crimes & Victims Survey 2019, https://www.justice.govt.nz/assets/NZCVS-findings-core-report-2018-fin-v1.3-for-release.pdf p82 [9] For example, see Le Grice, J., & Braun, V. (2018). Indigenous (Māori) sexual health psychologies in New Zealand: Delivering culturally congruent sexuality education. Journal of Health Psychology, 23(2), 175-187; Tupaea, M., & Le Grice, J. (2024). Mana Tamaiti: Un/binding gender, sexuality and reproductive autonomy with Mātauranga Māori and intergenerational dialogue. In Gender Un/Bound (pp. 241-255). Routledge.  [10] Hohou te Rongo Kahukura submission on RSE, May 2025.  [11] AWC op ed “Why Women Need to Stand Up for Trans Rights” https://awc.org.nz/why-women-need-to-stand-up-for-trans-rights/ 

Over half of New Zealand’s population lives in the Golden Triangle, and it is one of the fastest-growing parts of the country — it makes sense to have a modern, safe and efficient train service between Auckland, Waikato and the Bay of Plenty.  Te Huia is already showing how passenger rail can help people get to work, study, healthcare, and visit whānau without relying on long, expensive, and often dangerous road trips.  Investing in passenger rail eases congestion, improves road safety, reduces emissions and supports regional growth and tourism. With major rail infrastructure already in place and the City Rail Link opening in 2026, now is the time to build on Te Huia’s foundations — not walk away from them.

 Across Aotearoa, vulnerable communities including migrants, refugees, LGBTQIA+ people, faith groups, and tangata whenua are experiencing harm, fear, and exclusion caused by extremist groups or individuals who misuse faith, culture, or moral authority to intimidate. Misuse of haka, tikanga Māori, and religious belief as tools of intimidation violates our shared values, diminishes mana, and harms the safety and dignity of all. We call on the Government to 1. Recognise organised harassment as a serious threat and respond decisively 2. Protect public and community spaces including schools, libraries, places of worship, and community services 3. Ensure consequences for leaders and groups who repeatedly target and harass communities 4. Affirm the right of all communities to exist, gather, and practise their culture, community, and faith safely Aotearoa is strongest when difference is met with care, respect, and collective responsibility. We urge Parliament to act decisively to protect communities, uphold mana, and create a future grounded in dignity, safety, and collective care.  

From 2026, primary schools will report children’s learning using national labels: Emerging · Developing · Consolidating · Proficient · Exceeding For children aged 5–7, this approach is developmentally inappropriate. Learning at this age develops unevenly, at different rates for different children, and early labels often reflect developmental readiness and support needs rather than true understanding or potential. This matters because: • Early learning is non-linear Children aged 4–7 show wide, normal variation in attention, language, memory, and self-regulation. Progress does not happen in neat stages. • The labels describe support levels, not learning ability Terms like Emerging and Developing explicitly reference the amount of support a child needs, which risks equating support needs with lower ability. • Children within the normal developmental range are labelled Many children will sit in Developing or Consolidating simply because their learning is still forming, not because they are behind. • “Developing” and “Consolidating” are easily read as deficit For whānau, these labels are easily interpreted as “not meeting expectations”, even when development is typical. • Neurodivergent children are particularly disadvantaged These children may understand concepts but struggle to demonstrate learning in standardised ways due to differences in communication, processing speed, regulation, or anxiety. • Wellbeing and confidence are affected Early labelling can undermine confidence, increase stress, and discourage children from taking learning risks. • This approach has caused harm before New Zealand previously moved away from national benchmarking systems after evidence showed they narrowed learning and negatively affected wellbeing. Early learning should focus on growth, relationships, and support, not categorising children on a national scale.

We, the general public, and the undersigned clinicians, scientists, and health professionals, call for the urgent reinstatement of basic airborne-infection-control measures—clean indoor air and appropriate airborne respiratory protection —in all healthcare settings across Aotearoa, New Zealand. These are the simplest and most effective tools to prevent avoidable illness, disability, and death among both patients and staff.  Since the withdrawal of SARS-CoV-2 COVID-19 mitigations, hospitals and clinics have faced relentless outbreaks of respiratory viruses. Emergency departments are routinely operating beyond safe capacity, and senior doctors have compared recent winters to “mass-casualty situations.” [1] Aotearoa New Zealand’s “vax-and-relax” strategy has failed to protect our people. 1 in 5 children infected with COVID develop long-term symptoms. [2] Nurses and doctors have among the highest global rates of Long COVID [3], and ongoing staff illness contributes to understaffing, treatment delays, and preventable deaths. There are currently no adequate systems in place to support long COVID and post-viral disease in New Zealand, and instead, patients are met with medical gaslighting and a lack of medical and social support. [4] COVID-19 causes vascular damage and damage to every organ in the body, including the brain and heart, due to its ability to target endothelial tissues. [5] It wreaks havoc on the immune system, leading to an impaired response to future immune assaults. This has led to the rise of more severe responses to other illnesses, worsening of current conditions, outbreaks of recurrent infections (including fungal and bacterial), thus increasing pressure on emergency medical services. [6] Excuses such as "immunity debt” are not scientifically substantiated; in fact, all viruses damage rather than enhance the immune system, for example, both SARS-CoV-2 and influenza at least triple the risk of heart attacks. [7] The effects of viruses have been missed, overlooked, and minimised, leading to a culture of indifference and ignorance surrounding the impacts of catching regular viruses, including in healthcare settings and a reluctance to change following the ever-growing body of research that shows viruses can cause more significant harm than first thought.  We strongly believe that every person in Aotearoa New Zealand has a right to access safe healthcare without the risk of catching a deadly or disabling virus. This falls under our legal right to health, including access to timely and appropriate healthcare. Additionally, every healthcare worker has the right to a safe workplace and working conditions that support them to stay home when sick. [8] Treating airborne infection as a matter of “personal responsibility” violates these rights and undermines public trust. Critically, for the best prevention possible, fit-tested respirator masks (N95/FFP2 and N100/FFP3) must become the standard in all health care settings. Surgical masks are proven not to be effective against aerosolised respiratory viruses. [9] According to the British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS), it is a breach of health and safety standards to claim that surgical masks protect against inhaled hazards.  Like sterile surgical gloves or seatbelts, respirators and ventilation are proven life-saving norms —not restrictions on freedom, but tools that enable freedom through safety. We respectfully urge the Ministry of Health Manatū Hauora, Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand and the government and other regulatory bodies in charge of these regulations to implement the following evidence-based protections: 1. Use proven mitigations to prevent the spread of respiratory and other aerosol viruses at all times.  2. The return of mandatory protections for aerosolised viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 at all times, not just during a known ward outbreak, in all clinical spaces. Including visitors, staff and patients (where medically possible). 3. Respirators, i.e N95's or equivalent, not surgical masks, are to be used as the default mask practice (this is because surgical masks are not PPE for respiratory viruses.)  4. Paid sick leave and safer staffing levels so infected staff can stay home until they are no longer infectious and are well enough to safely perform their duties. 5. Return to regular COVID testing in emergency departments and wards. Including the numbers of patients and staff catching viruses like COVID-19 in hospitals, and nationally, the number of Long Covid cases and associated pathologies.  6. Mechanical ventilation and HEPA filtration in all patient-care spaces, operated at all times rather than reactively and ensure safe CO2 levels in each space. 7. Education on the importance of masking, different types of masks, their effectiveness and the proven damaging effects of COVID-19 infections. This information needs to be shared regularly with the public. 8. Increase funding, clinical care and community support for Long Covid and associated pathologies such as ME/CFS, POTS, Cognitive issues and more.  (Please read the full letter for all details and recommendations) Health is a collective responsibility. Allowing uncontrolled viral spread threatens not only individual lives but the sustainability of the entire health system. By restoring clean-air standards and airborne viral protection, Aotearoa can once again lead the world in compassionate, science-based public health. A final note to anyone in healthcare, you do not need to wait for another mandate to start masking with the best tools we have to protect yourself and patients and the community today.  Thank you! From Mask Up NZ in association with Aotearoa Covid Action. This petition is dedicated to Alice Wong, Leslie Lee III, and anyone who has lost their lives or had their health impacted by viral spread in a health care setting. (contact: [email protected]) References [1] https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360816342/ [2] https://doi.org/10.1111/jpc.70104 [3] https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqae113 [4] https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/577991/ [5] https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.9540 [6] https://whn.global/scientific/the-long-term-immune-effects-of-covid/ [7] https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.125.042670 [8] https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2015/0070/latest/DLM5976660.html [9] https://www.thelancet.com/journals/ebiom/article/PIIS2352-3964(24)00192-0/fulltext  

Dear Minister Simeon Brown We write to you as transgender and takatāpui young people of Aotearoa New Zealand to ask you to reconsider your decision to ban the use of puberty blockers (gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues) by transgender young people.   To be transgender or takatāpui is a taonga. To deny our young people access to life-saving medication on the basis of an imported culture war is cruel and abhorrent. Trans young people are some of our most at-risk youth. Not because of who they are, but because of how our society treats them for something they have no control over.    Denying our rangatahi an effective medication that gives them the time to discover who they are is needlessly cruel. According to Counting Ourselves 2022, 77% of trans people experience high or very high psychological distress, compared to just 12% of the general population. When compared to the fact that 95% of trans youth have a positive impact on their mental health from the use of puberty blockers, how could such a vital medical intervention be ignored?     This decision is an infringement on human rights and medical autonomy, as stated by Te Kāhui Tika Tangata The Human Rights Commission. Denying access to essential healthcare for trans and takatāpui youth is going to cause unnecessary harm and distress to not just young people but to their whanau as well. The fact that it is only our gender diverse youth that are denied this care, and not the general population, is clear discrimination designed to target our most vulnerable.   We urge you to reconsider your decision and put our young people’s health ahead of politics. Sincerely Lauren Craig & Ngahuru Autumn Brown

We all want Aotearoa New Zealand to be a place where everyone can thrive. Certainly a place where survivors of abuse in State Care and in the Care of Faith-based Institutions can thrive. We know that what has happened to the estimated 250,000 vulnerable adults, children, and babies is a “national disgrace” according to Judge Coral Shaw, former Chair of the Abuse in Care Royal Commision of Inquiry.  The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Final Report, Whanaketia: Through pain and trauma, from darkness to light, was very clear: “"As an immediate priority, the government and faith-based institutions should implement the 95 recommendations in the Inquiry’s interim report on redress, He Purapura Ora, he Māra Tipu: From Redress to Puretumu Torowhānui (2021), together with the recommendations of the design group, subject to any further recommendations made in this report." [1]” The Interim Report, He Purapura Ora, he Māra Tipu from Redress to Puretumu Torowhānui, has 95 Holistic Recommendations to improve the current redress systems (Ministry of Social Development, Ministry of Health, Oranga Tamariki - Ministry for Children and Ministry of Education) for survivors of abuse in care [2].  Summary of the redress recommendations are: • expansion of oranga, or wellbeing, services and support services for survivors and their whānau; • increased financial payments for survivors; • training for those working with survivors; • enactment of a right to be free from abuse in care, as well as a duty to protect this right; • an exception to accident compensation legislation; • improvements to the handling of survivors’ requests for records, including as few redactions of survivors’ records as possible; and,  • a review of record-creation and record-keeping practices. On the 12th of November 2024, the Prime Minister, RT Hon. Christopher Luxon,  finally and formally apologized to survivors of abuse in State and Faith-based care. He apologized to survivors for the horrific and harrowing abuse they have experienced while in care, he apologized to their family and whānau and he outlined some steps that the Government will take to address the Final Report of the Inquiry. He said: “"But I want to assure you it is our intention to have a new single redress system operating next year." [3]” On the 9th of May 2025, the Lead Coordination Minister, Hon. Erica Stanford announced changes to the redress system for abuse in care survivors. She announced: • Increasing the average redress payments for new claims from $19,180 to $30,000; • Providing for higher payments for the survivors who experienced the most egregious abuse; • Providing “top up” payments of 50% to survivors who have already settled claims to ensure consistency with increased payments for new claims; • Introducing a common payments framework so that survivors receive the same financial redress for similar experiences of abuse, regardless of where in state care that abuse occurred; • Increase system capacity to process claims from 1,350 to 2,150 per year from 2027 to reduce wait times for current claimants; • Implementing a seamless service so that survivors with claims with multiple agencies have those claims managed by one point of contact; • Introducing a single-entry point for survivors wanting to register new claims; • Introducing an independent review for people who are unhappy with their redress offer; and • Funding for redress agencies to provide survivors with access to supports and services.  She said: ““I acknowledge that a key recommendation of both the Royal Commission and the Redress Design Group was for a new independent redress entity. “The Government was faced with a difficult choice: do we spend more time and money on setting up a new scheme, or do we provide more to survivors now through the current redress process? “For Budget 25 we have prioritised improving the current system as quickly as possible for survivors and investing in changes that have a direct impact for them." [4]” To date, the Government has only implemented 28 of the 135 recommendations from the Abuse in Care Inquiry that relate to the Government. [6]   These reports from the inquiry shed light on the harrowing and horrific experiences that survivors faced while in the care of the state and faith-based institutions, and emphasise the profound impact that abuse has had on survivors’ lives. Now is the time for action: for people across Aotearoa to come together and be part of the process that ensures that survivors in Aotearoa can thrive.  By signing this petition, you are standing up for the rights of survivors and sending a clear message to the Crown: They have a duty of care to survivors, and a duty to implement a new single redress agency and implement all of the recommendations from the Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry. Together, let's ensure that survivors are supported.  Join us in this crucial fight by signing the petition today and spreading the word to your friends, family, and community. Together, we can make a difference and safeguard the future of care and help survivors of abuse in State and Faith-based Care to thrive.  _________ References: 1 - https://www.abuseincare.org.nz/reports/whanaketia 2 - https://www.abuseincare.org.nz/reports/from-redress-to-puretumu/ 3 - https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/11/12/full-text-of-prime-ministers-apology-for-abuse-in-care/ 4 - https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/budget-2025-invests-care-system-and-improving-redress-survivors-abuse-state-care 5 -  https://www.abuseinquiryresponse.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/Proactive-release/Putahi-te-mauri-he-wai-ora-e-Redress-design-proposals-1.pdf 6 - https://www.abuseinquiryresponse.govt.nz/about-us/official-information/information-releases/cabinet-papers-and-minutes/proactive-release-of-decisions-about-the-governments-response

We want a New Zealand where families of people in custody can stay connected safely, without fear, and where tamariki (children) continue to have meaningful contact with their parents. A world where incarceration does not unnecessarily harm children or whānau, and where rehabilitation is supported by strong family bonds. Currently, families often must provide their personal residential addresses to maintain contact with loved ones in prison. This creates significant safety and privacy risks, especially for caregivers and children. Many families are reluctant to communicate regularly because of these risks, leaving children isolated from their parent, and weakening family support structures that are proven to help reduce reoffending. This situation disproportionately affects vulnerable families, creating inequity and stress. For children, inconsistent or unsafe contact with a parent can have lasting emotional and social impacts, including anxiety, disrupted attachment, and increased risk of poor outcomes in education and wellbeing. Research consistently shows that maintaining strong family connections during incarceration: • Reduces recidivism: children and families can be a protective factor supporting rehabilitation.[1] • Supports tamariki wellbeing: consistent contact with a parent fosters emotional stability and resilience.[2,3] • Promotes fairness and equity: no family should have to risk safety to stay in touch. Currently, the lack of a secure, monitored communication platform prevents New Zealand from realizing these benefits. Families must choose between safety and contact, an impossible choice that can harm both parent and child. Implementing a secure electronic communication system: • Allows families to communicate safely without sharing private addresses. • Provides a child-focused option, letting tamariki exchange messages, drawings, or school updates safely. • Supports rehabilitation for people in custody by strengthening family bonds. • Reduces stress and safety risks for caregivers, improving overall family wellbeing. This issue needs to be addressed NOW because children are currently missing out on consistent contact with their parents, and families continue to face unnecessary risk. Modern secure communication systems exist internationally and could be adapted for Aotearoa, making this solution both feasible and timely.[4] References & Supporting Facts: [1] Reducing Re-offending (Corrections NZ): https://www.corrections.govt.nz/resources/strategic_reports/corrections_strategic_plans/creating_lasting_change_2011_-_2016_YR3/reducing_re-offending  [2] Murray, J., & Murray, L. (2010). Parental incarceration, attachment and child outcomes.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14751790903416889  [3] Bowlby, J. (1988). A Secure Base: Parent-Child Attachment and Healthy Human Development.https://www.increaseproject.eu/images/DOWNLOADS/IO2/HU/CURR_M4-A13_Bowlby_(EN-only)_20170920_HU_final.pdf  [4]Secure Video Calls with Prisoners - GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/visit-a-prisoner-using-a-video-call