David Seymour | on Social media and Kaupapa Maori

Dale Husband David Seymour | Leader of the ACT Party

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David Seymour, Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the ACT Party, joins us once again as a regular on our programme.

The Education and Workforce Committee has released an interim report into the harm young New Zealanders encounter online – a timely wake-up call for our whānau, iwi, and rangatahi.

Since mid-2025, the Committee has gathered public submissions and expert evidence describing how social media, harmful content, cyberbullying, and online exploitation are affecting tamariki and rangatahi – including many within Māori communities.

The interim findings warn the Government, educators, iwi, and whānau that urgent, systemic action is needed to protect young people online – and that relying only on parental supervision or voluntary industry codes is not enough.

Key Concerns Raised

• Young people report widespread experiences of digital abuse, harassment, misinformation, and exploitation online – often more intense for Māori and Pacific tamariki, who may lack safe digital support networks.

• The current online space leaves many vulnerable to harm, including mental health stress, poor self-esteem, isolation, and exposure to harmful content.

• There are glaring gaps in digital equity, education, and support services – particularly for whānau in rural, lower-income or isolation contexts who may lack guidance or resources.

• Experts and advocates argue for stronger regulation, age-appropriate protections, and culturally responsive support to ensure online environments are safer for rangatahi Māori.

The interim report recommends a range of safeguards, including but not limited to:

• National regulations requiring age verification and restricted access for younger users, especially under 16.

• Mandatory digital-safety education in schools, community-led programmes through iwi and marae, and funding for kōrero, workshops, and support services built on whānau and cultural values.

• Ongoing Māori-led research into the unique impacts of online harm on Māori youth – to ensure responses are grounded in tikanga, equity and identity.

Final recommendations from the Committee are expected when the full report is released in early 2026.

At the same time, there is parallel legislative activity: A proposed bill (the Social Media (Age-Restricted Users) Bill) seeks to raise the age limit for social media use to 16, requiring platforms to verify ages and prevent under-16s from holding accounts.

Just this week, Australian Government enforced a ground-breaking law, the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024, banning individuals under 16 from holding social media accounts. Platforms that don’t comply face massive fines.

This makes Australia the first country to adopt a nationwide minimum-age ban – a move aimed at stopping online harm before it begins. Already, major platforms have started removing under-16 accounts.

For Aotearoa, this international example adds real urgency to the Committee’s findings. It demonstrates that structural regulation – not just guidance or voluntary codes – is a feasible path to better protect tamariki and rangatahi.

But the Australian law also brings caution: critics warn such bans are blunt instruments. Some worry young people may simply shift to less-regulated apps, or lose access to beneficial online resources like community support, peer connection, and education tools.

That trade-off must be considered carefully – especially in our Māori context, where digital access can be a lifeline for remote whānau, reo revitalisation, and whakapapa connections.

Why This Matters for Māori Whānau, Iwi, and Future Generations

• Digital safety is cultural safety: For Māori rangatahi, online harm is not just a personal issue – it can affect whānau, whakapapa, identity, and the wellbeing of hapū and iwi.

• We can’t wait: The interim report shows harms are ongoing now. For many whānau already balancing social, economic, and cultural challenges – additional stress online is another burden on taha hinengaro, taha whānau, taha tinana.

• We need Māori-led solutions: Any response must prioritise tikanga, equity, access, and cultural identity. That means involving iwi, marae, whānau, rangatahi, and Māori educators in crafting interventions – not just copying Pākehā models.

• Balance access and protection: While restrictive laws may help, we also need digital education, support, and safe spaces online for tamariki – especially those in remote or disenfranchised communities.

The interim report from the Education and Workforce Committee is a stark reminder: social media and online spaces are no longer neutral. For many young New Zealanders  including Māori youths – they carry real risk.

As we reflect on the Australian example and proposals before our own Parliament, one thing is clear: safeguarding tamariki must be a priority for whānau, iwi, communities and the Crown – not later, but now.

For te ao Māori, this isn’t just about regulation. It’s about whakapapa, tikanga, caring for our mokopuna, and protecting their path forward in a world where the digital and physical are deeply intertwined.

We will be following the full inquiry and legislative developments closely – and bringing your whānau kōrero into the kōrero in turn.

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