Pānui pāpāho | Media releases

17 March 2026

Co-building Hope and  Harmony – A Harambee Call to Unite a Divided Society is the theme for this year’s World Social Work Day. Read the 2026 World Social Work Day messages from ANZASW Perehitana, Sharyn Roberts and ANZASW Pou Whakahaere, Nathan Chong-Nee

05 March 2026

20 February 2026

23 October 2025

ANZASW stands firmly with social workers and every kaimahi across health and education who will strike today. Despite the weather disrupting rallies across the motu, our resolve stands unwavering, and our message remains clear.

28 July 2025

The Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers (ANZASW) has today issued a formal public apology to survivors of abuse in state and faith-based care. The apology responds to the findings of the Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry, acknowledging the profession’s role in failing to protect tamariki, rangatahi, and vulnerable whānau during the inquiry period (1950–1999).

22 July 2025

On behalf of the Social Work Alliance, we are pleased to share this position paper: “Strategic Priorities for Social Work Workforce Planning and Development in Aotearoa New Zealand.”

26 May 2025

Government Budget Prioritises Punitive Measures Over Evidence-Based Social Investment. ANZASW is deeply disappointed in the government's regressive budget that abandons vulnerable communities by investing public funds into punitive measures while cutting social services and ignoring evidence-based approaches. 

07 May 2025

ANZASW strongly condemns the government announcement yesterday that changes to the Equal Pay Act will result in the immediate cessation of all current pay equity claims.

27 February 2025

ANZASW welcomes Aroturuki Tamariki the Independent Children’s Monitor’s Experiences of Care in Aotearoa Report for 2023-2024, however, we are profoundly concerned by the central finding that "social workers are not always able to work effectively" within the current Oranga Tamariki system.

17 February 2025

Researchers Leighton Watson of the University of Canterbury and Bex Howells of Victoria University of Wellington have quantified the impact of unpaid training on social work, alongside teachers, nurses and midwives in their research released today.

09 January 2025

The Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers (ANZASW) stands in solidarity with the Irish Association of Social Workers' call for the immediate release of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, a Palestinian doctor unlawfully detained while serving his community.

16 December 2024

The Aotearoa New Association of Social Workers has joined over 20 child and youth advocacy organisations from across Aotearoa New Zealand to call on the Prime Minister to stop the bootcamps Bill.

17 September 2024

The Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers call on the Prime Minister to withdraw his party’s support for the divisive and damaging Treaty Principles Bill.

24 June 2024

Together with over 30 other youth advocacy organisations from across Aotearoa New Zealand, we are calling for an end to punitive youth justice policy. We are seeking government support for these children and their whānau, not criminalisation of them.

Join the petition handover at Parliament steps this Wednesday 26 June at 12pm to show the government how we feel about their punitive criminal justice policy for tamariki and rangatahi. Let’s stop the Ram Raid Bill

31 May 2024

Budget 2024 has brought unsurprising confirmation that collectively, as the profession of social work, we remain largely out of step with the Government’s values, priorities, and worldview.

22 January 2024

The Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers calls for an end to the indiscriminate slaughter of civilians and destruction of homes, health services, cultural resources and essential infrastructure in Gaza, an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages and mobilisation of urgent access to humanitarian aid to those in need. 

13 October 2023

We stand in solidarity with the IFSW and their appeal for ‘swift and lasting peace,' acknowledging the remarkable dedication of social workers involved in this conflict.

19 May 2023

Budget 2023 was released yesterday, signalling some welcome improvements in how whānau, tamariki and young people will be supported in Aotearoa New Zealand. There is a need for greater focus on addressing systemic inequities.

19 May 2023

The Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers supports the petition and call for the Aotearoa New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine as a state delivered to Parliament this week.

01 December 2022

Moe mai rā e te taonga, Malachi. Our thoughts and condolences are with Malachi’s whānau at this incredibly challenging time.

25 October 2022

Today, the Government announced the settlement of the social work pay equity claim for community and iwi social workers.

01 July 2022

ANZASW cannot support the US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the constitutional right to abortion. We stand with all people who can get pregnant, and our social work colleagues in the US to condemn this injustice. We will continue to advocate for reproductive rights and justice to ensure that such a decision does not undermine the critical progress we have achieved in Aotearoa New Zealand by decriminalising abortion in 2020. We urge social workers to stay vigilant against attempts to reduce access to abortion care through legal, funding, and/or regulatory methods.