While the most recent New Zealand Crime and Victims Survey (NZCVS) between February and May 2025 published in news reports, shows violent crime falling, sexual violence is rising.1

Te Ohaaki A Hine – National Network Ending Sexual Violence Together (TOAH-NNEST)) is concerned about the underlying causes behind the recent rise of 3,000 sexual assault victims.

“That tells us this is not a problem policing alone can fix. Sexual violence requires a sustained focus on prevention, healing, and legal reform. The data shows what we already know, that the rise in sexual violence shows a deeply entrenched and distinct crisis that demands specialist responses and the need for ongoing increased resourcing,” says Russell Smith, Ngā Kaitiaki Mauri TOAH-NNEST.

“Our TOAH-NNEST members nationwide are preventing sexual violence and supporting survivors to heal. Their specialist services tackle trauma, harmful attitudes, and gendered power imbalances and must be protected and expanded to reduce sexual violence long term.”

Unlike other forms of violence, the NZCVS shows sexual violence is not shifting with broader crime patterns. This makes it clear that it requires a different kind of response. One centred on prevention, community healing, and long-term support for survivors.

This increase shows that sexual violence is not being reduced by the same interventions that are lowering robbery or physical assaults. It requires specialist responses that go beyond policing and enforcement.

An increase in reported assaults may also reflect that more victims are finding the courage to come forward, which is positive, but it equally underscores how widespread and urgent the issue remains.

If the Government is serious about addressing what Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has rightly described as “a massive issue,” then investment in prevention and healing must sit alongside law-and-order measures.

Kathryn McPhillips, TOAH-NNEST Tauiwi Caucus spokesperson, said urgent legal reform is essential in the face of rising sexual violence, and/or increased reporting of sexual violence. It must be a top priority for Minister Goldsmith.

“Banning online rape content is critical. Unlike Australia and other countries, New Zealand allows images of criminal acts, such as rape and bestiality, to be hosted on online platforms. This is very topical given currently, a former New Zealand Deputy Police Commissioner faces eight charges for possessing objectionable publications, including child sexual exploitation and bestiality content. Without strong leadership to drive law change, this continues to shape the types of pornography available here and the harmful attitudes and behaviour they foster.”

“We also need the consent law updated to ‘positive consent’ where sex is understood as freely given and actively agreed to, not simply the absence of a ‘no’. This law amendment would bring New Zealand into line with the UK, Canada, and Australia jurisdictions,” McPhillips says.

Through its work, TOAH-NNEST sees that the impact of sexual violence goes far beyond the statistics. It affects individuals, whānau, and entire communities, leaving deep scars and undermines wellbeing. Each sexual violence victim number in the NZCVS represents a life harmed and a community bearing the weight of that impact.

1 Out of 156,000 victims of violent crime, including sexual assault, physical assault, and robbery.

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