The changes proposed erode Aotearoa’s longstanding commitment to fundamental human rights and humanitarian principles. It is clear that the effect of the changes proposed will have a significant, negative impact on everyone, all visa holders, but especially people seeking asylum, refugees and the broader refugee protection framework in Aotearoa. It will affect: 1. Their right to stay if they find love or are offered a job. 2. Their rights to appeal to stay on humanitarian grounds. 3. Everyone's right to live free from being required by Immigration Officers to provide ID on request in the community, at home or at work. New ICE-style Powers for Immigration Officers to Request ID on suspicion: We are alarmed by the new powers proposed for Immigration Officers to request identification documents from people they suspect could be liable to deportation or in breach of visa conditions because: • In practice, it is clear that these powers are likely to extend to people who are in Aotearoa legally, such as people seeking asylum and refugees but also residents or citizens, and will be used disproportionally against people based on their race, ethnicity or country of origin. • It will be particularly harmful to people seeking asylum and refugees, many of whom have experienced heightened and harmful government monitoring in their countries of origin. • Rather than fostering a sense of safety and belonging, these provisions risk increasing existing vulnerabilities and erode trust in public institutions. • It risks vulnerable populations going further into the shadows. Individuals may avoid seeking medical care or even reporting crimes, like workplace exploitation or domestic violence, for fear of immigration enforcement and deportation. Ban on alternative visa pathways for people who withdraw their asylum claim • It is cruel to ban people seeking asylum who withdraw their claim, because they have fallen in love, married or are in a settled relationship with a New Zealand partner, from being eligible for an alternative visa such as a Partnership Visa • It is cruel to ban people seeking asylum who withdraw their claim from being eligible for an alternative visa such as a Skills or Job specific Work to Residence Visa because they have been offered employment. Limitation on humanitarian appeal rights • The limitation on humanitarian appeal rights will reduce access to independent, experienced oversight at a critical point in the immigration system.These oversight and appeal rights are an important safeguard, particularly for individuals with complex or evolving humanitarian needs, including those facing serious harm if returned.  • Limiting appeal rights could also be unduly harsh on the children of those liable for deportation. Currently, many deportation cases regarding temporary visa holders (such as those who have sought asylum here over many years) involve families with children in school who have spent the majority of their lives in Aotearoa New Zealand. Deportation can have major, adverse impacts on children’s health and well-being, notably through family separation, disrupted education, and being returned to an unfamiliar country where they may not speak the language.  • Retaining the right to appeal deportation is an important avenue for protecting children’s rights and upholding New Zealand’s obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Conflation of people seeking asylum, seeking safety, with criminals • This Bill and its public introduction by the Minister makes a problematic conflation between serious criminal offending by long-term residents and measures targeting asylum claimants, packaging both under the framing of "Enhanced Risk Management."  • These provisions address entirely different populations with entirely different legal statuses. One group has been convicted of serious crimes; the other is exercising a fundamental right recognised under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Refugee Convention.  • Grouping them in a single legislative instrument, such as this Bill, undermines public understanding of what the asylum process is and reinforces a damaging association between asylum seeking and criminality that is neither accurate nor justified, putting communities at risk. We therefore call on this Bill to be scrapped. For more about Asylum Seekers Support Trust: Website: asst.org.nz Facebook: facebook.com/ARCI.NZ Instagram: @asylumseekersnz

Being ready to change the Government is about taking simple action that will count on November 7th. A new law means people will no longer be able to register to vote during the voting period. Last election 450,000 people registered to vote during the voting period - many of them Māori, Pacific communities and young people. You, your friends and loved ones need to register before October 25th to be able to vote from October 26th to November 7th.  Every time you sign and share this petition, you send a signal to the Government, and your friends and networks get a critical memo on registering to vote in time. The last few years have told us, when push comes to shove we turn up for each other and stand up to be counted. It’s time to do it again. Authorised by K Hartendorp, PO Box 19069, Wellington 6149

With over 15% of Aotearoa, and over 30% of Māori (1), having used cannabis obtained through illegal markets in 2024, the legalisation of cannabis for recreational use would clearly be beneficial to the mana, money and health of a large number of New Zealanders. It’s been over 5 years since the narrowly failed 2020 Referendum, and surveys show that a vast majority of the public is now in favour of some sort of drug law reform(2). What are the reasons that consumers, non-consumers and public advocates like New Zealand Drug Foundation(3) support the drafting and passing of new legal cannabis legislation? Firstly, in a legal market, users would have access to more information about what they are consuming as well as the potential health risks it carries, and would not be presented with the option to buy other more harmful drugs while purchasing cannabis (one of the major factors involved in the ‘gateway drug’ myth). Improving public discourse and reducing stigma would begin to restore the mana and dignity of individuals and communities that have been harmed by negative narratives around illegal drug use.  From an economic perspective, in addition to an estimated $1–1.5B in tax revenue(4) from the legal market, many desperately needed safe and sustainable jobs would be created, providing better opportunities for those stuck in the dangerous and unstable world of the illegal market. With less resourcing of illegal trafficking and more resourcing of education and harm-reduction services, a legal marijuana market would create safer and healthier communities.  Finally, there is the obvious issue of how cannabis users are treated by the legal system. There is a common misconception, spread most often in privileged communities, that “weed is practically legal” in Aotearoa. From 30th June 2024 to 30th June 2025 alone, 180 people were convicted for simply using or possessing cannabis(5) (not including those who possessed cannabis with intent to traffic). If that number does not seem particularly high, consider that cannabis related charges were involved in over 3600 court cases during this period(5); so cannabis prohibition, that goes against the advice of domestic experts and the view of the general public, is still being weaponised as a tool of punishment in our legal system.  And of course, the most devastating effects of prohibition happen outside the courtroom, with the overpolicing of marginalised communities. A 2024 investigation by Aotearoa Justsice Watch found “concerns about improper searches” to be the most dominant theme in submissions about police conduct (6), and racial profiling causes Māori and people of colour to be more heavily targeted for warrantless cannabis searches. Recent roadside drug-testing laws use inaccurate testing methods that over-police drivers who had most recently consumed cannabis days before, and even affect prescription cannabis users (7).  Even in places overseas where cannabis has been legalised, poor policing laws allow cops to harass and search citizens on suspicion of engagement in illicit dealing or production, causing much of the same profiling and violence that occurs under total prohibition. A requirement of police to use non-invasive means such as photography to capture evidence of actual illicit transactions, rather than searching private property for stashes exceeding an arbitrary legal threshold, would more effectively minimise contact between law enforcement and the communities that are most harmed by cannabis prohibition. Improved transparency around drug policing would be a step towards fairer policing, and safer communities.  These reasons, and this petition, are only a partial representation of the rich and diverse perspectives that exist in support of cannabis legalisation in Aotearoa. We, the undersigned, call on the government of Aotearoa to take urgent action in acknowledging our demands and seeking wide-ranging consultation to create more fair, equal and safer cannabis legislation for Aotearoa.  Sources: 1. https://drugfoundation.org.nz/news-and-reports/report-drug-use-in-aotearoa-202324  2. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/northland-age/news/nationwide-poll-shows-majority-want-cannabis-laws-relaxed/Y6QCN5T63NFMBMKYTOYV66KYRQ/  3. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/575403/decriminalising-drug-use-best-way-to-combat-rising-addiction-report-finds  4. https://drugfoundation.org.nz/news-and-reports/berl-report-shows-nz-will-be-better-off-under-legal-cannabis.  5. Ministry of Justice Cannabis Offences Table, June 2025 version, downloaded from https://www.justice.govt.nz/justice-sector-policy/research-data/justice-statistics/data-tables/  6. https://amnesty.org.nz/new-report-mistreatment-by-police-and-prison-officers/ 7. https://drugfoundation.org.nz/news-and-reports/roadside-drug-testing-what-you-need-to-know 

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

Explanation for the Coronial Reform Petition. On 2 August 2020, our family lost a loved one while he was in police custody. We entered the coronial process seeking clarity, accountability, and honest answers about the circumstances that led to his death. Instead, we discovered a system marked by silence, delay, and limited transparency. Key information was difficult to access, critical evidence was incomplete or disputed, and the pathway to a reopening was unclear and dependent on discretion rather than consistent standards. Our family’s experience is not isolated. Across Aotearoa, many whānau who lose loved ones in sudden, unexpected, or police-related circumstances remain trapped in the same uncertainty — grieving without answers, and living with unresolved questions that could be clarified through a fair, timely, and transparent coronial process. When essential information is withheld or delayed, when evidence remains untested, and when decisions are made without full disclosure, families are left without closure and justice is left unfinished. Systemic Pattern of Failure (Public Record Context) Public oversight findings and Official Information Act material identify a recurring pattern in deaths occurring in Police custody in Aotearoa New Zealand that extends beyond delayed medical response. These findings document failures of duty of care, including inadequate monitoring, delayed recognition of medical distress, delayed escalation to emergency care when individuals became unresponsive, and inconsistencies between recorded custody checks and what occurred in practice. Oversight bodies have also identified concerns relating to custody-environment conditions, supervision, and information handover, all of which engage fundamental issues of human rights, dignity, and the lawful treatment of people deprived of their liberty. These matters are not raised to draw conclusions about Stacey Owen-Waaka’s death, but to establish that the State’s failure to consistently uphold its duty of care in custody settings is a documented systemic issue on the public record, warranting careful coronial scrutiny, transparency, and accountability. Public record context includes IPCA findings and information released under the Official Information Act (OIA) relating to deaths in Police custody. 1) IPCA - Death of Jaye Taueli (Police custody) https://www.ipca.govt.nz/Site/publications-and-media/2023-reports-on-investigations/2023-jun-27-death-jaye-taueli-police-custody.aspx 2) IPCA - Death of Faasala Samu Matue (Police custody) https://www.ipca.govt.nz/Site/publications-and-media/2025-media-releases/2025-mar-12-investigation-death-matue-.aspx 3) IPCA - Death of Lynne Martin (Police custody) https://www.ipca.govt.nz/Site/publications-and-media/2025-media-releases/2025-mar-25-death-custody-gisborne-duty-care.aspx 4) IPCA - Death of Dwayne Walters (Police custody) https://www.ipca.govt.nz/Site/publications-and-media/2016-Media-Releases/2016-MAR-17-Death-in-custody-of-Dwayne-Walters.aspx This petition calls for reform because the current system does not adequately protect families or uphold public confidence. We need a coronial process where: • full disclosure is guaranteed, • decisions on reopening are timely and transparent, • independent review safeguards are in place, and • every family, regardless of their background or circumstances, has a clear and equitable path to answers. Families should not have to fight for basic information about how their loved one died. They should not be left carrying the burden of uncertainty for years. Reform is necessary because unanswered questions prolong trauma, undermine trust, and prevent genuine accountability in cases where state agencies are involved. This petition is not just about one family or one date. It is about ensuring that every death investigated by the coronial system is treated with the dignity, fairness, and transparency that whānau deserve. For the sake of those who have died in unreasonable circumstances — and for the families who continue to wait for truth — this system needs change. Reform is overdue, and the voices of affected families must finally be heard.

I care deeply about this issue because I have seen firsthand how ACC delays, lost documents, and repeated administrative failures cause real harm to ordinary New Zealanders. The image above is the beginning of our story — a child fighting for life while a system meant to protect us repeatedly failed. Our petition speaks not only for her, but for every whānau still trying to survive the consequences of ACC’s neglect. When decisions take months or years, families are left without income, without treatment, and without answers. These are not isolated mistakes — they are systemic failures affecting people from every region and every background. No New Zealander should suffer financially or emotionally because an agency did not meet its basic responsibilities. Timely decisions and clear accountability are not luxuries; they are the foundation of a fair and trustworthy public system.  This reform is about ensuring that every person in Aotearoa is treated with dignity, urgency, and justice.

Our children deserve access to safe and integrity-driven education. Right now, companies like Crimson are pushing charter schools through with almost no oversight, while making money off private tutoring. There’s already been abuse in one of their programs - a tutor with past convictions actually harmed children - and that shows the system isn’t keeping kids safe. At the same time, schools that are doing things right, like The Liger Leadership Academy, are being denied approvals. And Kelston Boys had its governance documents redacted in a way that makes it impossible to verify what actually happened. It’s not just bureaucracy - it’s about who gets to shape education for every kid in NZ. If Parliament doesn’t pause and review this properly, we’re basically giving public money and control to private interests with no accountability. That’s why I’m pushing this petition: it’s about safety, fairness, and protecting public education for everyone.

The Department of Corrections is failing to provide basic necessities like hygienic bedding, underwear, socks, shoes and thermals. This is a breach of human rights and a failure to care for those in state care. We demand that the Department of Corrections does better. People Against Prisons Aotearoa has been supporting prisoners individually with these needs, but as the situation worsens it has become apparent that work needs to be done to ensure that all prisoners receive appropriate clothing as a necessary part of Corrections custody. In the 2024/2025 year, PAPA provided people in prison with: • 240 pairs of underwear • 255 pairs of socks • 111 pairs of shoes  • 102 thermals.  In general, the requests PAPA have been receiving are because: necessary items are not being provided at all, the number of items provided isn’t sufficient for hygienic purposes or because the quality of these items doesn’t meet people’s basic needs. Why does Corrections not face legal consequences for failing its responsibilities to keep prisoners clean and warm?  Corrections need to start doing their job. People Against Prisons Aotearoa will no longer be responsible for patching holes left by the Department of Corrections failing to meet its legal obligations, and a Government that fails to address this! We need you and the people of Aotearoa New Zealand to help us demand the Department of Corrections do their jobs and fulfil their legal responsibility. *image by Min Iles

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

Shifting Public Expectations vs Outdated Law There is a growing gap between modern views of consent (especially among youth) and what our laws say. Schools and public discourse now emphasize that consent must be active and affirmative – that a “hesitant or reluctant” response is not true consent. Yet legal practice still often treats such behavior as consenting. Juries have been told that reluctant consent “is still consent”, directly contradicting how consent is taught in schools. HELP Auckland captured this sentiment at the petition launch: our youth are demanding a law that reflects the principle of “free and voluntary agreement”. Unless the law is updated to match contemporary understanding, we send a confusing message: that societal norms around respectful intimacy count for nothing once a case goes to trial. Current Political Context Since the 2023 election, progress on consent law reform has stalled. The new Coalition government has so far taken only a narrow step by amending the law to protect children under 12. Unfortunately, no similar initiative has been announced for older teens or for defining consent itself.  Call to Action This reform has been called for repeatedly, supported by the public, and even acknowledged across political parties, but no government has yet made it a priority. Without prioritisation, change will never happen. Survivors will continue to be failed, and a broken system will remain in place. Parliament must enact an affirmative definition of consent — one based on free and voluntary agreement — and address age-based loopholes that allow predators to exploit teenagers. The Justice Select Committee has already given us a roadmap for change, and it is imperative that lawmakers follow through. A reformed consent law, shaped by survivors’ experiences, will better protect young people and demonstrate that Aotearoa’s legal standards match the values of its people. We call on the government to put this issue back on the agenda now, rather than delaying it further. To read our full letter, click on this link. If you would like to sign on behalf of your organisation, and add your logo as an organisational signatory, please contact Imogen Stone at [email protected].

Every person in Aotearoa should be able to enrol and vote safely, without fear that being on the electoral roll could put them or their whānau at risk. Enrolling should protect people’s right to participate in democracy while also upholding their personal safety and wellbeing.  Currently, the electoral roll in Aotearoa is public, meaning names and addresses are openly accessible. For many people, including survivors of violence or those with past convictions, this creates real safety risks. While the hidden (unpublished) roll exists, it is very hard to access and requires extensive proof of current risk. This leaves many vulnerable people unprotected. It also undermines whānau throughout Aotearoa who don’t have the financial stability to get legal representation to support their application. For example, my dad (an ex-prisoner) didn’t feel safe enrolling in 2023. He applied for the hidden roll but was denied, even though he was genuinely worried people from his past could find him and put him and our family at risk. This could be achieved by: • Expanding access to the hidden roll by broadening eligibility so people with credible past risks can apply.  • Making the application process faster, clearer, and easier to understand.  • Ensuring decisions are made quickly, with clear reasons if denied. • Create a simple, accessible appeals process for those turned down.

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