A petition to the New Zealand Parliament
There is no life sentence for raping a child in New Zealand. The maximum is 20 years. We are asking Parliament to change that.
143,220 of us, as at 7.24pm on 15 October 2026. Day five, we had 139.
The goal
Every square is 1,000 of us. 143 filled. Send this to one person who hasn't signed.
The petition
The petition asks for life imprisonment as the maximum for sexual violation. Our written submission asks that where the victim is under 18 it be the presumed sentence unless a judge finds that manifestly unjust, exactly as murder is today.
It also asks Parliament to raise the maximums for sexual offences against children and for abuse material, with minimum prison terms and no home detention, and to require two-thirds of a sentence to be served.
The request, as lodged
That the House of Representatives legislate to make life imprisonment the maximum for sexual violation, raise maximums for sexual offences against children and for child sexual abuse material, set minimum prison terms with no home detention for that material, and require two-thirds to be served.
The facts
The maximum sentence for sexual violation. There is no life sentence for raping a child.
Crimes Act 1961, s 128B
people convicted of a sexual offence against a child under 16 were not sent to prison.
Ministry of Justice, OIA 134743. Five years to June 2025.
got home detention.
Ministry of Justice, OIA 134743. Five years to June 2025.
Every number on this page is sourced. Where a sentence is quoted, it is the court's word for the conviction, not ours.
Why
This movement is bigger than us. For past, present and future, the law tells us what a life is worth.
If you ruin a life, you deserve to do life.
You are a good person. Good people do something.
Moe, Equal Is Not Enough
Three ways to help
01
Thirty seconds on the Parliament website. Every signature is counted and reported to the House.
02
Not everyone. One person who hasn't signed. That is how we got from 139 to here.