Keeping our young people safe

The Anglican Church is committed to helping keep our children and young people, as well as their leaders safe. We want to foster best practice policy at all levels of ministry. It is our responsibility and greatest joy to foster church communities that are safe, welcoming and inclusive. We honour and respect all members of the body of Christ, and are called to ensure that our churches are safe for all. ​

Needing help?

If you or someone you know are in immediate danger - call 111 and ask for the police.

​If you have experienced misconduct, you can make a complaint through the ministry standards commission.

For concerns or complaints involving someone within the Anglican Church, please email: [email protected]
Or, write to: Independent Registrar, Ministry Standards Commission, PO Box 87188, Meadowbank, Auckland 1742
Or, to leave a confidential voice message for the Independent Registrar phone: 0800 004 031
Download the poster

Child Protection in the Anglican Dioceses of NZ

Each Anglican Diocese is responsible for overseeing the child protection and safety training of all their leaders, and for managing their own Safeguarding and Child Protection Policies.

For more information, contact your local diocese:
 Please get in touch if you have any questions, and we can put you in contact with your local safety coordinator.

Police Checks

New Zealand Police Vetting Form (Updated June 2025)

Anglican Communion resources

The Anglican Communion Safe Church Commission has produced some helpful resource documents to equip the church for safeguarding. These are free to download, adapt and use in your context. 
More information on their website

Handle with Care

In 2018, we put together our recommended national safety policy for the Anglican Dioceses of New Zealand. This document has been adopted by several dioceses, as a resource for better practice in churches and organisations. 
Handle with Care Policy (pdf)
Handle with Care Policy - text only (word doc)

The Children's Act 

The Children's Act 2014, which came into force in July 2016, requires organisations to ensure that those working with children understand the nature of abuse and neglect. 

All churches must now also develop policy for:
  • Defining and Identifying Abuse and Neglect
  • Dealing with Disclosures of Abuse
  • Recording, Reporting and Responding to Suspected Abuse
    ​
Each diocese is responsible for ensuring safe practice when working with children, young people and vulnerable adults.  All (paid and volunteer) ministry personnel must have a thorough understanding of best practice their diocesan safety policy. Safety training for all leaders in general safety, boundaries, protection and abuse is required, along with a current police check.  All checks and training is to be repeated every three years. 

Oranga Tamariki

Oranga Tamariki is the Ministry for Children in New Zealand. 

​They are dedicated to supporting any child in New Zealand whose wellbeing is at significant risk of harm now, or in the future. We also work with young people who may have offended, or are likely to offend. Their belief is that in the right environment, with the right people surrounding and nurturing them, any child can, and should flourish.
Oranga Tamariki have some resources for working with children, and a wealth of information on their website. 

Team Training resources

Your team of leaders are such an important part of our ministries, as they ensure that our churches are the safest place for all of our children. It is important to ensure that they have the best training to help support a safe and welcoming programme, and there are a range of opportunities around New Zealand to help you with this. 
Crossroads Kids' Club Training have uploaded a variety of short animated safety videos that can be helpful refreshers on a few safety issues. 

Spiritual Abuse Books and Resources

Escaping the Maze of Spiritual Abuse 
Lisa Oakley and Justin Humphreys
In recent times, the term 'spiritual abuse' has become more widely used across the Christian community. But what exactly is spiritual abuse? How do we define it, recognise it, prevent it and respond to it effectively?
(2018)

Paper Plus
Booktopia (also available in Ebook)
Spiritual Abuse Webinar
By Lisa Oakley, for the Diocese of York. A helpful 46min overview of Spiritual abuse. 
​A call for inclusion, mutual accountability and action
An article addressing abuse in the religious sector by Dr Michelle Egan-Bitran, Safeguarding Children consultant.

Links

Waikato and Taranaki Diocesan - Safeguarding and Vulnerable Persons page
​Safeguarding Children - webinars, training and resources
Ministry Standards Committee

Video conferencing
​with young people
Safety guidelines

Digital safety with young people

Netsafe developed the 'online treaty' to support all kids and their whānau to have a safe and positive time while using the internet and devices. The treaty helps families agree on some guidelines and helps to keep online safety front of mind. Find out more here...
Family Safe Online Treaty - Primary aged children (Netsafe)

CHILDREN + FAMILIES MINISTRY FOR THE ANGLICAN DIOCESES OF NEW ZEALAND

[email protected]
 ©2018-2025  Strandz | All rights reserved