Issues Update - September

Select Committee Oral Submissions

I’m just back from a riveting trip to Malaysia. After enjoying the beautiful country and

attending the Asia Pacific Regional Conference it was all go on the issues front.

This week I had the privilege of presenting two oral submissions on behalf of BPW NZ —

one on Online Harm and the other on the Online Casino & Gambling Bill. I co-presented with Vicky Mee, sharing BPW’s concerns about the risks that online spaces pose to vulnerable New Zealanders.

From young people themselves, we hear a very clear message: the internet offers incredible

opportunities for connection and learning, but it also exposes them to serious harm. Violent,

sexual, and racist content is far too easy to access. Bullying, harassment, and trolling can

take a huge toll on mental health — in the worst cases leading to self-harm or suicide

attempts.

Added to this are the risks of grooming and image-based abuse, leaving young people’s

privacy and safety vulnerable. Social media algorithms often amplify the very content that

harms them, while platforms continue to avoid accountability.

What young New Zealanders are asking for is not a ban on the internet — but safer online

spaces. They want stronger protections, transparency from platforms, and support services

when things go wrong.

The second submission, on the Online Casino & Gambling Bill, revealed a different but

equally important concern. Many submitters focused on the vital community funding that

comes from gambling profits, especially for sports clubs. While BPW acknowledges the

importance of community funding, our focus was on the direct impact on women, children,

and whānau.

Imagine a mum in the community. She’s already stretched thin — juggling bills, raising

children, maybe working shifts. When new gambling services enter her neighbourhood, she

often carries the extra burden if money is lost or if gambling harm takes hold at home.

BPW NZ believes that gambling license applicants should not only provide a business plan

but also demonstrate how they will safeguard women and families. We are advocating for

gender impact assessments as part of the licensing process. This means asking: Have you

considered the mums, the children, the whānau? Have you planned for their safety and

wellbeing?

These assessments make the social impacts visible, ensuring decisions are not made on

profit alone, but on people and their wellbeing.

Our message in both submissions was simple but powerful: Women, children, and

vulnerable communities must be at the centre of decision-making — whether online or in our neighbourhoods.

It was a first for me and I am grateful for Vicky Mee’s continued mentorship.

Nga mihi nui

Sherryll Markie-Brookes

VP Issues

BPWNZ