Sign our Open Letter to oppose the Summary Offences (Move-on Orders) Amendment Bill (2026)
Family for Every Child believes every child deserves to grow up safe, loved and supported. We strongly oppose the New Zealand Government’s proposed Summary Offences (Move‑on Orders) Amendment Bill, as it stands in direct opposition to this belief. Now, we are calling on our community to stand with us and sign our open letter, calling for the bill to be withdrawn immediately.
The Bill allows the Police to issue move‑on orders to children aged 14+ (new s8A(3)), detain them (new s8C), and prosecute them for non‑compliance with penalties of up to 3 months’ imprisonment or a $2,000 fine (new s8F).
We strongly recommend that the bill is withdrawn, and that focus is put on strategies to address child poverty and homelessness such as the Homelessness Prevention Bill.
Add your voice, sign the open letter
We oppose this bill because it criminalises poverty, lacks compassion, displaces homeless whānau and mokopuna. It will punish vulnerable people when they most need support. A move-on order requires somewhere to move on to, and this bill will criminalise people, especially children and young mothers, who have no money and nowhere to sleep.
If we want to help children and young people thrive, we must do more to support families and whānau at the community level rather than criminalising people who have already been let down by the system.
Giving Police the power to arbitrarily issue move-on orders to people as young as 14 years, with no system of oversight or chance to appeal, is unacceptable and a children’s rights violation.
Sign Here
By signing our open letter, you show that you want to see children’s rights being honoured and respected in Aotearoa New Zealand. Sign now, and join a call to help and protect vulnerable children and young people at the community level.
Why this needs to be stopped
This proposed bill is inconsistent with:
– Te Tiriti o Waitangi
– The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
– The NZ Bill of Rights
– The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
– The values of our country
We’ve already made a submission. Now we need our community on board!
In July, we presented a joint submission to government. This petition backed by our supporters will strengthen this call.
Join a growing community of organisations and people who are passionate about protecting children’s rights in Aotearoa New Zealand, and around the world
Advocacy is a persistent, powerful driver behind meaningful and lasting change. Help us spread the word, or join our growing community below.
Become a supporter!
Our collective advocacy work is fuelled by a generous giving community who believe every child deserves safety, care and love.
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We’re on a mission to reach 1,000 signatures to raise awareness, and strengthen our call to revoke this bill.
About Family for Every Child
What do we stand for?
Our vision
Our hearts are set on a world where every child has the chance to thrive in a safe, loving family. Our work creates lasting change for children and families who face adversity, trauma and displacement.
Our approach
Every community is unique, so solutions must be too. We partner with local organisations who know their communities best and foster change at the system level. Everything we do is led by local culture, backed by research and shaped by children and families themselves.
Who we are
We are a global network created by local civil society organisations to protect children’s rights and strengthen families. Today, our network includes 58 organisations in over 45 countries, working together to drive change in the systems that impact families and shape children’s lives. We influence policy and practice by sharing knowledge and documenting innovative, locally-rooted approaches. Our collective research provides critical evidence for advocacy campaigns at national and international levels.
Our recent mahi in New Zealand
In 2025, our research report “Strengthening Kinship Care in Aotearoa New Zealand” became an important piece of advocacy that was recognised sector-wide. Through collective advocacy, we want to improve the care system to better look after vulnerable tamariki and whanau. Supporting kinship carers, those people who take on the care of children and young people whose parents cannot care for them, is an important part of creating a system that is supported and prevents harm at the community level.
We have identified clear recommendations on what is needed to strengthen kinship care, and have spoken about the report’s findings in the media, and across the social sector to raise awareness and advocate for change with our local partners.
“It’s my hope that this report sparks action: increased collaboration, understanding and support for those who step up to provide this vital care, so that all mokopuna in Aotearoa New Zealand grow up safe and surrounded by love, stability and a strong sense of belonging.”
– Dr Claire Achmad
Te Kaikōmihana mo Ngā Tamariki o Aotearoa
former Children’s Commissioner
Our work in Aotearoa
Our recent research has one goal: to make sure more tamariki and rangatahi stay safe with their whānau and communities instead of entering state care. This mahi is led by locals and leans on lessons learned around the world.
Why it matters
When parents can’t care for their children, it’s often a sibling, grandparent, or close family friend who steps in. This is kinship care — when whānau become carers, keeping children in their communities. In New Zealand, 16,000 to 22,000 children grow up this way, yet these families often struggle and urgently need support.
We saw a research gap, and asked…
How do we support Kinship Care in Aotearoa? Kinship carers are the invisible heroes of society, but they often go unnoticed. Our research sets out to change this.
Image credit to our member organisation VOYCE – Whakarongo Mai
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2025 Family for Every Child New Zealand Trust | Registration no. CC54645 | Company no. 2670471
2025 Family for Every Child is a charitable company limited by guarantee | Registered charity in England and Wales no. 1149212 | Company no. 08177641
2025 Family Alliance Inc. | Family Alliance is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organisation registered in NYS | EIN 46-5518730
