10.10.2025
Koi Tū recently made a written submission to the Education and Workforce Committee inquiry into online harm to young New Zealanders and how government, business, and society can address it. This was followed by a verbal submission presented by Deputy Director Hema Sridhar on Monday 6 October.
Our work covers several areas relevant to this inquiry, including youth mental health, technology and society, and the changing information environment. We have published widely in these domains and our research is recognised nationally and internationally.
Online harm to young people is closely linked to our extensive work on youth wellbeing. Like many developed countries, New Zealand faces high rates of social and mental distress among young people. The digital environment is one contributing factor but it cannot be viewed in isolation, nor is it likely the primary cause.
Our research and structured discussions with young New Zealanders suggest that online influences add to a complex mix of developmental, social, and environmental pressures. Underlying sociological, educational, and technological factors have left many young people ill-prepared for today’s world, reflecting a lack of policy foresight that is now evident in hindsight.
