I’m signing my name to a safer future for our tamariki
3941
others have already joined me.
Sign the letter
This advocacy campaign highlights that the safety of children is not only a significant social issue - it is one we all have a role in addressing.
A child's right to safety is something we adults should protect fiercely - and I'm asking you to play your part.
Sign the letter and show your commitment to creating safer environments for our country's children, every day.
We want as many adults in New Zealand to sign this letter to create a ripple of change.
Renee has signed the letter
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TeRau has signed the letter
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gwyneth has signed the letter
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Lusa has signed the letter
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Teri has signed the letter
Te Aro has signed the letter
Tiare has signed the letter
Sarah has signed the letter
Emanuel has signed the letter
Corrine has signed the letter
Sharon has signed the letter
Shane has signed the letter
Sarah has signed the letter
Sarah has signed the letter
Susan has signed the letter
Heather has signed the letter
Inge has signed the letter
Carlene has signed the letter
Nargis has signed the letter
Katy has signed the letter
Jo has signed the letter
Renee has signed the letter
Linda has signed the letter
Craig has signed the letter
Saffron has signed the letter
Jana has signed the letter
Haami has signed the letter
TeRau has signed the letter
Kath has signed the letter
gwyneth has signed the letter
Melemo has signed the letter
Nicki has signed the letter
Lusa has signed the letter
Jacqui has signed the letter
Teri has signed the letter
Te Aro has signed the letter
Tiare has signed the letter
Sarah has signed the letter
Emanuel has signed the letter
Corrine has signed the letter
Sharon has signed the letter
Shane has signed the letter
Sarah has signed the letter
Sarah has signed the letter
Susan has signed the letter
Heather has signed the letter
Inge has signed the letter
Carlene has signed the letter
Nargis has signed the letter
Katy has signed the letter
Jo has signed the letter
Dear Children
There’s over a million tamariki in New Zealand.
And you've all got your whole lives ahead of you.
My job is to be your champion, so you can thrive and enjoy your childhood, protected along the way.
As a child, your right to safety is something all of us adults should protect fiercely, so you can grow up free from harm, living your potential.
Too often, we've failed to keep the promise to make sure you're all safe.
We can't let it happen anymore. We won't.
You, your safety and happiness are so important to me that I'm writing this letter to you, and to all New Zealand's children.
I'm writing so that you know we all care about you, fully committed to a future where you grow up safe and full of joy.
So now, I'm signing my name to that – a safer future for our tamariki.
And I'm asking all of New Zealand's adults to join me.
Neke atu i te miriona ngā tamariki i Aotearoa nei
Ko te ao kei mua tonu i a koutou katoa.
Ko taku mahi hei kaihāpai mō koutou, kia tipu, kia rea ai koutou, kia ora, kia taumaru ai tō noho ki tō ao.
Ā tamaiti nei, ko tō mōtika ki te noho haumaru tētahi o ngā take me kaha taumaru tonu mātou te hunga mātua, e tipu ai koe ki te ao tūkino kore, e torohū ai koe ki tēnei ao.
I roto i te wā, kua paheke tō mātou kī taurangi kia noho haumaru tonu koutou.
E kore e taea te pērā i naianei. E kore mātou e tuku.
He mea nui koe ki a au, ko tō haumaru, ko tō harikoa he mea hiranga ki a au, e tuhi nei au i taku reta ki a koe me ngā tamariki katoa o Aotearoa.
E mōhio ai koe e atawhaitia ana koe, e ngākau nui ana hoki mātou ki tō torohūtanga.
Ki te torohūtanga o tētahi ao e tipu, e rea ai koe, ki te haumarutanga me te harikoatanga hoki.
E waitohu ana ahau i taku ingoa ki tēnei ao torohū āu.
Me te tono ki ngā mātua katoa o Aotearoa ki te hono mai ki te kaupapa nei.
Arohanui,
Dr Claire Achmad
Children's Commissioner
"No adults bashing you every hour… just aroha, aroha everywhere, everywhere. That’s what I wish for the whole country to be – aroha."
About
This advocacy campaign begins with a letter from the Children’s Commissioner, Dr Claire Achmad, to every child in Aotearoa New Zealand — a pledge that their safety and wellbeing matters.
As Children’s Commissioner, Dr Claire Achmad together with her team at Mana Mokopuna is prioritising children’s safety and wellbeing in her independent advocacy, drawing national attention to the urgent need to end all forms of harm against mokopuna (children and young people).
Too many children aren’t safe, and that must change.
We’re calling on all adults to speak up, work together, and take action to protect mokopuna.
Together we can be a country where every child is safe, valued and grows up thriving.
Every adult can play a part
We’re asking all adults in Aotearoa New Zealand to:
Speak up if you see or hear something that doesn’t feel right.
Be present—look out for children, offer support, listen, believe what they have to say and check in.
Take action to make homes, schools, and communities safer.
Champion change by backing stronger child protection in your workplace, school, or community group.
Real numbers about real children
These are the facts about child safety in Aotearoa New Zealand. Real numbers about real children, showing the risks our tamariki face. Showing us why every adult’s actions matter. Creating a ripple of change in our communities, alongside the need for ongoing systemic change, is urgently needed. You can play your part.
On average, a child is killed in Aotearoa New Zealand every
4-5 weeks
In the last decade, approximately 113 children aged 0-17 were killed by homicide. Two thirds of these (66%) were aged under 5 years, highlighting younger aged children are most at risk of harm.
Police admin data, 2025
7.3x
higher than the UK
3.5x
higher than Australia
2.6x
higher than Canada
New Zealand has one of the highest rates of children under 5 years killed by homicide [interpersonal violence] compared with similar countries.
1,493
common assaults against children
7,014
serious assaults against children
1,833
aggravated sexual assaults against children
Violence against children is increasing. In 2024, more children under 15 years were recorded as victims of violence than in previous years, and the numbers are significantly higher than five years ago.
Police Victimisation data 2024; as cited in Table 6a, Salvation Army, 2025
44,532
children required further action after reports of concern had been made in 2024/25
In 2024/25, Oranga Tamariki received reports of concern for 63,039 children, with more than 44,532 reports requiring further action.
