New Zealand has launched a new prevention initiative called Little Matters to help parents and caregivers protect children from sexual harm. Associate Minister for ACC Nicola Grigg explained that the programme shifts responsibility away from children and emphasizes the vital role of adults in creating safe environments and building healthy relationships.
Little Matters outlines ten everyday actions that adults can take, providing evidence-based guidance to support prevention. It will be integrated into sexual harm prevention services and programmes, ensuring that the messaging reaches families and communities across the country.
The initiative comes in response to concerning statistics: in the past year, ACC received over 14,000 new sensitive claims and supported more than 40,000 New Zealanders who experienced sexual abuse or assault, many of whom were harmed as children. Grigg stressed that preventing abuse requires sustained action across multiple fronts, and this programme is one step toward changing that trajectory.
The rollout of Little Matters will take place through social media, community organisations, and prevention programmes. Its effectiveness will be tracked through independent research to measure shifts in understanding, attitudes, and behaviours, with the goal of reducing harm and enabling children to grow up in safer, healthier environments.
