15 December 2025
Safeguarding Children’s Annual Summary 2025 is now available. As we reflect on the year, we are proud to share the progress we have made alongside our partners, supporters and the many adults who chose to learn, act and stand with us for children’s safety.
Here are some of the key highlights from our year:
A strong community response to Child Safeguarding Week
Child Safeguarding Week saw strong engagement from parents, caregivers and professionals across Aotearoa:
- Over 13,600 people received updates
- A 43% increase in newsletter subscribers
- Strong growth in website and social media engagement
- 226 enrolments in our new Parenting in a Digital World e-learning course.
This shows that many people are seeking practical, accessible guidance to help keep children safe online.
Advocacy that drives real change
This year saw significant progress in national conversations about safeguarding. We welcomed the government’s acceptance of all recommendations from the Malachi Subecz review and continued advocating for stronger safeguarding standards, clearer reporting pathways and modernised responses to online harm.
We also stood alongside Children’s Commissioner Dr Claire Achmad at the launch of Protecting Our Mokopuna and the national Dear Children campaign – a powerful reminder that child safety is everyone’s responsibility. We proudly support this kaupapa and encourage people to learn more at www.dearchildren.co.nz.
Education and training across Aotearoa
In 2025 we supported thousands of adults to recognise and respond to abuse and neglect, delivering:
- 28 live webinars
- 50 face-to-face trainings
- 14,252 e-learning courses completed
- 940 subsidised or free courses
To date, more than 89,000 people have engaged with our training.
Supporting safeguarding in early childhood education
Our consultants continued to work alongside ECE centres, home-based providers and Kōhanga Reo nationwide to build knowledge, strengthen policies, Codes of Conduct and early-intervention practice.
Community reach in Northland and Bay of Plenty
Thanks to support from the Lottery Grants Board and the Wright Family Foundation, hundreds accessed free or low-cost training, including almost 300 free online courses in each region.
Growing our team and capability
We strengthened our team this year with new expertise in digital development and marketing. Ben Watson joined us to lead and enhance our e-learning platform, and Eve Malcolm came onboard to grow our marketing capability and expand our reach across Aotearoa.
Our growing podcast library
Our free safeguarding podcast series continued to expand, covering online safety, child rights, governance, prevention and more.
Listen at safeguardingchildren.org.nz/podcast.
Read the full Annual Summary 2025
Click below to explore all stories, data and insights from across Aotearoa.