There's been a massive effort from all those involved in the submissions process resulting in five submissions lodged this month. These are publically available on the NCWNZ website at Submissions - National Council of Women of New Zealand.
Deepfake Digital Harm & Exploitation Bill - S26.07_Deepfake_Digital_Harm_and_Exploitation_Bill_.pdf . Online safety, including safety for women and children, is a key concern for NCWNZ members. The Bill is too narrow in scope and will merely amend a broken legislative and regulatory environment. There are gender-specific risks and dangers with the current unregulated online environment, and the failure to keep up with our counterparts. We outline a number of law reform and programming recommendations to help ensure that everyone is safer online.
Overseas Adoption Legislation Bill - S26.08 Overseas Adoption Legislation Bill
NCWNZ believes this is a critically important Bill that aims to protect some of the most vulnerable children. However, it also risks unintended consequences, among which is the denial – particularly to Pasifika children – of the opportunity for a loving, safe family/kinship-based home in New Zealand.
Legislation (Definitions of Woman and Man) Amendment Bill - S26.10 Legislation (Definitions of Woman and Man) Amendment Bill
NCWNZ opposes the Bill in the strongest possible terms and requests that it is immediately withdrawn. The Bill does not meet the Crown’s obligations of protection in Te Tiriti o Waitangi, contradicts current legislation in Aotearoa New Zealand, and does not align with international treaties and Conventions to which New Zealand is a signatory. NCWNZ condemns the attack on the rainbow community inherent in the Bill. We find the lack of reference to individuals with innate variations of sex characteristics and to gender fluidity present in cultural practice to be deeply disquieting
Summary Offences (Move-on Orders) Amendment Bill - S26.09 Summary Offences (Move-On Orders) Amendment Bill
NCWNZ believes that people experiencing homelessness, poverty, violence, addiction, mental distress, and social exclusion are members of the public, and have a right to safety, dignity, housing, and protection. This Bill does not centre that reality. Homelessness does not disappear because it is moved from sight. Suffering does not disappear because it occurs somewhere else.
Conservation Amendment Bill - S26.11 Conservation Amendment Bill
NCWNZ believe that the Bill, as currently drafted, is deeply flawed. We recommend that the Bill be withdrawn. It needs to be substantially redrafted to reaffirm the primacy of conservation, protect public conservation land from disposal or inappropriate use, uphold democratic and Treaty obligations, and recognise the critical role conservation plays in the wellbeing of women, families, and communities.
Footnote: Submissions webinar recording.
In May the Submissions Coordination team ran an introduction to the submissions process. You can find the 40 minute recording here Submissions Webinar 2026 - Google Drive.
If you are interested in joining the submission writing team please contact Julie Thomas, [email protected].
To read more articles from The Circular (May-June 2026) issue 657, click on the tag below.