The Problem:

​New Zealand is facing a national crisis that statistics alone cannot fully describe.

While recent legislative shifts in 2025 were a start, they have not gone far enough to protect our most vulnerable.

According to the Royal Commission of Inquiry (2024) and recent 2026 reviews by the Independent Children’s Monitor, the reality remains grim: one child is killed by homicide every 4 to 5 weeks in New Zealand.  

​Behind every statistic is a name who's life was stolen while the system watched.

 Despite the horrific nature of these crimes, offenders continue to receive significant sentencing "discounts" and early parole eligibility that do not reflect the gravity of taking an innocent child's life.

​The Reality of the Numbers:

​Homicide: ~1 child killed every 4–5 weeks.

​Violence: ~1 child hospitalized for non-accidental injury every 5 days.

​Daily Harm: Nearly 1 child every single day is admitted for assault or neglect.

​Our Demands:

​We, the undersigned, call on the New Zealand Government and the Minister of Justice to urgently amend the Sentencing Act 2002 and the Parole Act 2002 to implement the following "Zero-Tolerance" protections:

​Mandatory Minimum Non-Parole Periods:

 For any homicide (murder or manslaughter) where the victim is a child under 14, a mandatory minimum non-parole period of at least 20 years must be established.

​No Parole for Extreme Cruelty:

We demand that offenders convicted of child murder involving prolonged abuse or torture be ineligible for parole entirely (Life Without Parole).

​A Hard Cap on "Discounts":

While the 2025 reforms capped some discounts at 40%, we demand a 0% discount policy for "remorse" or "personal background" in cases of child homicide.

A killer's past does not excuse a child's stolen future.

​Strengthened Parole Board Criteria:

Amend the Parole Act to ensure that "public safety" in child abuse cases includes a mandatory psychological assessment, specifically regarding the risk to children, with a "presumption against release" for repeat child offenders.

​Strict Liability for Caregivers:

Increase the penalties for those who "fail to protect" a child (Section 195A), ensuring that those who stand by while a child is tortured face significant prison time, not just home detention.

​Call to Action:

​Our justice system currently prioritizes the "rehabilitation" of offenders over the "protection" of children.

This must change.

We need laws that act as a true deterrent and a parole system that ensures child killers are never again in a position to harm the innocent.

​Sign this petition to demand that New Zealand's laws finally value the lives of our children more than the excuses of their abusers.