Sexual violence prevention advocates are warning one of Aotearoa’s most serious social issues risks being largely overlooked during the 2026 election campaign.
Russell Smith from Te Ōhaakii ā Hine – National Network Ending Sexual Violence Together joins Radio Waatea to discuss the organisation’s latest Sexual Violence Prevention Scorecard and the policy gaps it has identified.
Te Ōhaakii ā Hine represents specialist sexual violence services across the country and works with government and the sector on prevention, crisis response, recovery and support.
The scorecard comes as New Zealand continues work under Te Aorerekura, the long-term national strategy to eliminate family violence and sexual violence. The current action plan runs through to 2030 and includes prevention, supporting people affected by violence and improving how services work together.
Smith says the election provides an opportunity to examine what political parties are actually proposing to prevent sexual violence and whether specialist services and community-led prevention will receive the sustained attention and resources required.
With voting approaching, the challenge for political parties is whether sexual violence prevention will become part of the national conversation rather than remaining on the edges of the campaign.
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