Our submissions
Access some of our recent submissions below.
Inquiry into the harm young New Zealanders encounter online, and the roles that Government, business, and society should play in addressing those harms | July 2025
Children’s Rights Alliance Aotearoa New Zealand (CRAANZ) agrees that addressing online harm is an urgent issue and needs multi-pronged solutions. CRAANZ reminds the Committee of their duties under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989 and strongly recommends the work of the Committee, and all policy and legislative actions to address online harm, uphold all the various rights set out in the UNCRC. CRAANZ also strongly recommends that children’s views are sought and considered at each step in the process and that a Child Impact Assessment be undertaken to systematically assess the effects of any actions that are proposed.
We invite you to read our submission and let us know your thoughts on this Inquiry.
Regulatory Standards Bill | June 2025
Children’s Rights Alliance Aotearoa New Zealand (CRAANZ) strongly opposes this Bill in its entirety. In our view, the Bill is not compliant with the UNCRC in process or substance and will not achieve its claimed intent, nor does it address the major regulatory failings that currently exist. We consider the Bill to be constitutionally unsound and undermining of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and international human rights obligations. Children and young people, especially those experiencing multiple disadvantages, would be especially vulnerable to harm from the Bill’s proposed shift in power and resources towards the interests of wealthy individuals and commercial entities. If enacted, this Bill would present a serious risk to the rights of children; Indigenous rights; equity and fairness in childhood; public health; the environment; and social cohesion and will have lasting detrimental impacts on our nation. CRAANZ recommends the Bill be immediately abandoned.
We invite you to read our submission and let us know your thoughts on this legislation.
Government Procurement Rules & the Living Wage | April 2025
Children’s Rights Alliance Aotearoa New Zealand (CRAANZ) provide feedback to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) on the 5th edition proposal of the Government Procurement Rules. We strongly oppose MBIE’s proposal to remove the requirement to pay the New Zealand Living Wage and recommend that this proposal does not proceed. CRAANZ is concerned that the proposed changes to remove the requirement to pay the Living Wage will disadvantage already marginalised groups of children and note that there is no evidence that this proposal has considered the impact on the lives of children and young people if the requirement to pay the Living Wage is removed.
We invite you to read our submission and let us know your thoughts on this issue.
Regulatory Review of Early Childhood Education
Children’s Rights Alliance Aotearoa New Zealand (CRAANZ) welcome the opportunity to engage in this review of the regulations governing the early childhood education sector. In this submission CRAANZ presents a framework for policy development and review that puts the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child at the centre of decision making. We believe that the Children’s Rights Convention offers a useful lens through which to consider the quality of early childhood education including health and safety, ratios, pay and conditions and a trained workforce.
Please read our submission and let us know your thoughts.
Strengthening the oversight of Oranga Tamariki | December 2024
Children’s Rights Alliance Aotearoa New Zealand (CRAANZ) supports much of the Oversight of Oranga Tamariki Bill but believes greater measures are needed to strengthen oversight and the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Please read our submission and let us know your thoughts.
Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill | December 2024
Children’s Rights Alliance Aotearoa New Zealand (CRAANZ) strongly opposes the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill. We hold deep concerns that the Bill may breach the rights of tamariki and whānau Māori as stated in our submission. Please read and feel free to use our submission to inform your own.
Standing up for Section 7AA
Children’s Rights Alliance Aotearoa New Zealand (CRAANZ) is opposed to the repealing of 7AA, believing it will cause further harm to tamariki Māori and their rights. Together with our membership and children’s rights networks, we developed a joint submission against the repeal.
UN General Comment on Access to Justice and Effective Remedies
By addressing the root causes impeding children’s rights, we can create a more holistic approach to upholding children, family and whānau wellbeing and their rights to access justice and effective remedies. Significant opportunities exist to improve prevention and the early wrap-around support of families and whānau in Aotearoa New Zealand to minimise harm and support wellbeing. Improved responses are required by a supported social workforce that has the knowledge, skills and resourcing to address barriers to justice, including structural and community barriers, inequalities and discrimination. Read this submission coordinated by Steering Group member, Family for Every Child.
Royal Commission of Inquiry COVID-19 Lessons Learned
As part of the Convention Monitoring Group (CMG), Children’s Rights Alliance Aotearoa met with the Royal Commission to shine a light on the impact the pandemic response had on children’s rights, to help ensure gaps in the COVID-19 response are addressed and future pandemic and emergency responses are strengthened.
OP3 - enabling children to take complaints to the UN.
Together with Save the Children New Zealand and UNICEF Aotearoa, the Alliance submitted in favour of New Zealand ratifying the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a Communications Procedure, commonly referred to as OP3.
OP3 would allow children to take a complaint to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, once they have exhausted domestic remedies.