OUR AREAS OF FOCUS

In Aotearoa and around the world

In a world where we face, domestically and internationally, some of the biggest crises ever faced by humanity, it can be daunting.

We're seeing the creeping spread of authoritarian practices across the world, and laws and policies eroding human rights. No country is immune, including here in Aotearoa.

But there is power in community, in all of us coming together. At the heart of so many major human rights movements over time, has been community. It is this space, these relationships, where change starts.

A human rights respecting democracy is not a given, we must join together to protect what is important.

Our focus

Strengthening community power to resist human rights regression and authoritarian practices taking root.

History has shown the power of strong movements in pushing back against authoritarian practices and injustice. That’s why this is a core focus – strengthening people power.

In doing so we build a movement that means our society is based on views and policies that support human rights and Te Tiriti. It means authoritarian practices cannot take a foothold in our society.

How we’ll do this together

If the power of community and protest is the answer, we need to strengthen it! We do this by:

Campaigning to change key laws and policies important to strengthening the power of community and protest

Connecting people, building relationships and growing the power of community to achieve justice

Strengthening social justice movements

International solidarity

Standing up for human rights defenders

Te Tiriti justice

Make social media platforms safer by design

Protect the right to protest

Connecting people, building relationships and growing the power of community to achieve justice:

For over fifty years we have been helping people to connect and claim their agency with others to bring about a more just world. This is about so many things, it’s about combing efforts to achieve transformational change. It’s about belonging, relationships and meaning as people connect with others on issues their passionate about. It’s about creating spaces for people to find their agency, upskill, take action. And it can look like a million different things, it’s about talking with loved one’s about issues to help raise awareness, it’s sharing content online, it’s donating, it’s organising events, attending local meetings, meeting with an MP and so much more. Everyone has a place in the movement and your place matters! To find out more click here.

Strengthening social justice movements:

We help to strengthen movements and civil society by supporting collaboration – our combined efforts make for an unstoppable force. An example of this mahi is supporting collaboration in the criminal justice and .

International solidarity:

Across the world communities are mobilising to fight injustice –to resist authoritarian practices and demand leaders uphold human rights for everyone. And we’re stronger together – we have seen time and time again the power of international solidarity. This is a major part of our work and we take action to support campaigns in many different countries, here in Aotearoa we have a particular focus on the OPT and women’s rights, click here to find out more.

Standing up for human rights defenders:

In many countries, people who peacefully stand up for what they believe can find themselves in dark places. Places where the world can no longer see what is happening. We expose the very things that governments don’t want you to know about and we mobilise people like you to take action. Across the world people send letters and messages, raising awareness. It could be that we are calling for someone’s release, a fair trial or an end to harassment. Whatever the aims for each different case, the motivation is always the same - to right a wrong.

Knowing that you have not been forgotten and that someone you have never met is fighting for your rights is incredibly powerful. It gives people hope, inspiration and motivation. It also sends a message to the authorities that people around the world are watching what they do. And time and time again we have seen how

Are authoritarian practices actually a problem in Aotearoa?

No country is immune, including here in Aotearoa. And we seeing ongoing numerous red flags. We believe these red flags signal a broader trend that we must seriously question, where is this taking us?

We’re seeing, for example, the civil society freedoms threatened through the expansion of terrorism law and proposals that would limit the right to protest. We’re seeing transparency and accountability undermined through the use of urgency in Parliament to pass laws, severely limiting public input and scrutiny. We’re seeing proposals to reduce voting rights and make it harder to participate in voting. We’re seeing Government seeking to undermine a fundamental part of our constitutional make-up - Te Tiriti. We’re seeing a sustained and ongoing attack on indigenous rights.

We are hearing more reports from activists and people in public life that taking part in activism feels less safe. Research from the Helen Clark Foundation released in 2025 included the finding that 32% of those surveyed supported having a strong leader with no parliamentary oversight.

These are major red flags. A human rights respecting democracy is not a given, we must join together to protect what is important.