Indigenous Peoples’ rights
Serious attacks on Māori rights continued. In October, the government passed the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) (Customary Marine Title) Amendment Act 2025, raising the bar much higher for Māori to have their customary rights to the foreshore and seabed acknowledged. “Customary Marine Titles” recognize the relationship between Māori communities and parts of the common marine and coastal area. They provide certain rights, including decision-making about the use of marine resources in that area. These changes raised serious concerns about the erosion of Māori land and customary rights and that seabed mining and extraction projects would increase.
Freedom of expression, association and assembly
Proposals were introduced that could significantly restrict the right to peaceful assembly. In February, the Independent Police Conduct Authority released a report recommending new legislation that would increase police powers over public demonstrations. This could result in demonstration organizers facing thousands of New Zealand dollars in costs, limit the ability to hold spontaneous protests and introduce new protest-specific offences.
The Ministry of Justice explored proposals to widen the scope of the Terrorism Suppression Act, which could significantly limit rights to freedom of association and expression.
The government made concerning use of “urgency procedures” to bypass standard law-making steps to push through legislation in parliament, including bills significantly impacting human rights.
Corporate accountability
Independent online safety organization Netsafe documented an increase in complaints meeting the threshold of harmful digital communication. In June, parliament launched an inquiry into the harm experienced online by young New Zealanders and how to address that harm. Aotearoa New Zealand’s laws failed to adequately hold companies to account for online harm.1
Right to a healthy environment
In July, the Climate Change Commission warned that current policies were insufficient to deliver the reductions to emissions that the government had committed to. In September, the government reopened nationwide applications for oil and gas exploration for the first time since a 2018 ban, introducing a new “open market” permit process.
In October, the government announced a major weakening of its 2050 target to reduce biogenic methane emissions. It also stated that it would reduce the number of companies required to report on climate-related risks and impact.
Refugees’ and migrants’ rights
Aotearoa New Zealand’s immigration policy framework failed to meet the needs of Pacific Peoples affected by climate change. Instead, it offered limited and arbitrary migration pathways that discriminated against people with disabilities and medical conditions, separated families and disregarded children’s rights.2
Right to housing
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development reported that data and observations from around the country indicated that the number of people living without shelter had increased since the 2023 Census estimate.
