Belong Aotearoa Sector Update 18 December 2025
Kia Ora,
It has been heartbreaking to witness the grief and suffering left in the wake of the Bondi attack in Sydney, and a sobering reminder of how fragile our sense of safety and connection can be. In Aotearoa, we know there is still much work to do to heal division and to resist the forces that turn difference into distrust.
As we near the end of 2025, many see this time as a season of reflecting, while some are, if we’re honest, doing a bit of forgetting.
In the daily mahi, I have spent time reflecting on and celebrating small wins, enjoying the company of good colleagues, attending a few end-of-year celebrations, and appreciating the privilege of working alongside people committed to making Aotearoa better. Yet alongside these moments of gratitude is a growing concern about the convenient use of ‘forgetting,’ increasingly evident in our public discourse and political environment.
The idea of ‘strategic amnesia’ has been impossible to ignore this year: the convenient forgetting that erases history, context, and the root causes of our present challenges. This forgetting underpins the worrying normalisation of racism and discrimination, including the misrepresentation of equity measures as “racial privilege” or “contrary to universal human rights.” The recent release of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination’s concluding observations on Aotearoa starkly laid out how far our race relations have deteriorated. If you haven’t read the UN CERD report yet, I encourage you to do so (it’s only 14 pages).
Despite the evidence, we have seen some powerful political figures dismissing the findings as “absolutely laughable” and diverting attention to the shortcomings of other nations (and if you read this recent RNZ article, this diversion is a profoundly Trumpian tactic). That kind of avoidance is precisely what strategic amnesia looks like: forgetting the historical and structural forces that have shaped our present, conveniently overlooking the global colonial project that has produced many of the inequalities we see today, and pretending that our responsibilities can be evaded by pointing elsewhere. As we enter an election year in 2026, we need to ask politicians across all parties what they will concretely do to address racism and discrimination and strengthen social cohesion and belonging. Indeed, sometimes the more important question to ask our politicians is not what they want us to know, but what they are hoping we won’t remember.
As we look toward 2026, I am holding onto the belief that it can be a year of collaborative action, one where we collectively push back against division and build greater social cohesion and belonging for everyone who calls Aotearoa home. In the meantime, I will be taking some time to reset; spending time with whānau, sneaking in walks between heatwaves, and enjoying the simple delights of a Kiwi summer. I know how much self-care is needed at this time, allowing us to step back, restore ourselves, and return to the mahi. I hope you all find space to rest, reflect, and reconnect with the things that you feel are important to remember.
Ngā mihi ki a koutou, and happy holidays!
Angela Wilton
Chief Executive Officer, Belong Aotearoa
In Case You Missed It
Addressing Sexual Violence in New Zealand Report (Helen Clark Foundation)
Ministry of Justice estimates indicate that around 209,000 sexual assault incidents occur each year, affecting approximately 82,000 victims.
Nearly one in four adults (24%) report experiencing sexual assault at some point in their lifetime.
The report makes several recommendations to bring New Zealand laws and policies in line with best practice and keep them up to date with technological changes and social norms. The report identifies four key areas for change:
Closing the gaps in the justice system to reduce underreporting of sexual violence and increase the number of cases continuing to trial and a verdict;
Updating the definition of consent in law to an affirmative ‘yes means yes’ consent model;
Addressing the harm caused by sexually explicit deepfakes, and
Eradicating the practice of ‘virginity testing’ in New Zealand.
Read more here.
Events
Migrants Are Not Disposable Workers - International Migrants Day Protest (Migrant Action Trust)
When: Thursday 18 December, from 12 noon.
Where: Level 1/8 Beach Front Lane, Browns Bay, Auckland.
Learn more here.
Media
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon due to meet with Jewish community following Sydney terrorist attack (NZ Herald)
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon addressed the media following a terrorist attack in Sydney that killed multiple people. He condemned the attack, describing it as an act of hatred and violence, and expressed condolences to the victims and their families.
Luxon emphasised solidarity with Australia and support for affected communities, particularly the Jewish community.
Read more here.
Spain's leader finds himself alone in defending immigration as other EU heads take a tougher line (Stuff)
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is standing out in Europe for actively defending immigration, while many other leaders tighten border controls and adopt tougher rhetoric.
He emphasises the economic and social benefits of legal immigration, arguing it boosts Spain’s workforce and prosperity. Sánchez contrasts his pro-immigration stance with the restrictions in countries like France and Germany, as well as the rising anti-immigrant sentiment across the EU.
Read more here.
Immigration tribunal orders deportation of man jailed for raping wife soon after arranged marriage (NZ Herald)
A man living in New Zealand has lost his appeal and will be deported after being convicted of raping and assaulting his wife soon after their honeymoon, following an arranged marriage.
He was sentenced in April 2023 to 7 years and 10 months’ imprisonment after a jury found him guilty of rape, unlawful sexual connection, male assaults female, and causing injury with intent to injure.
Read more here.
He paid $16k for a job in NZ. When he arrived, there was just a mattress on the floor (Stuff)
A migrant worker paid $16,000 upfront for a promised job in New Zealand.
Upon arrival, he discovered there was no job, and he was given only a mattress on the floor to sleep on. The situation reflects exploitation and recruitment fraud, a risk some migrant workers face when paying for jobs abroad.
Workers in such scenarios often face financial loss, isolation, and vulnerability, with limited recourse. This case has raised concerns about unethical recruiters and the need for stronger protections for overseas job seekers.
Read more here.
They tried to ‘pray the devil out’ of him - now trans man is thriving in NZ (Stuff)
The article tells the story of a transgender man who faced severe religious and social pressure growing up, including attempts by family and religious figures to “pray the devil” out of him.
He experienced rejection, discrimination, and mental health challenges due to his gender identity. After moving to New Zealand, he has found acceptance, community support, and the freedom to live authentically. The article highlights the importance of affirming environments and social support for transgender individuals to thrive.
Read more here.
Do you have news you would like to share in our fortnightly Sector Update? Simply email your update to: sectorupdates@belong.org.nz.
Ngā mihi,
Belong Aotearoa Team