Research & Issues

The role of Family First is to promote and advance research and policies which support marriage, families, and safe communities as foundational to a strong and enduring society. Read our Research Reports and our Summary Papers on key issues.

Research & Issues

Research, Surveys & Key Issues

Surrogacy Laws in NZ – 2024 update

The new Government has reviewed our surrogacy laws, made some changes as recommended by the Law Commission, and is now seeking public submissions. Family First opposed the ...

A Review of the End of Life Choice Act survey

A Review of the End of Life Choice Act survey BACKGROUND Almost three years ago, the New Zealand Parliament passed the euphemistically titled – End of Life Choice Act ...

Opposition To Puberty Blockers and Gender Ideology For Children

SURVEY: Opposition To Puberty Blockers & Gender Ideology For Children

A new poll has found strong support for a ban on puberty blockers, and also a ban on the use of ‘gender affirmation’ chemical & ...

There’s no “Pride” in sexualising our children

Schools’ Pride Week Aotearoa for NZ schools being held next week (12th-16th), overseen by the radical and government-funded charity InsideOUT. But there's no "pride" in pushing radical ...

Parliament Protest - analysis of media coverage

ANALYSIS – Media Coverage of Parliament Protest 2022

A new report has reviewed the mainstream media coverage of the 2022 Parliament Protest, and finds that the media failed in its duty to present ...

REPORT: The value of family, and the cost of family breakdown

A new report estimates that the fiscal cost to the taxpayer of family breakdown and decreasing marriage rates has been estimated at around $2 billion ...

PARENT GUIDE: The Battle For Your Child’s Innocence

As children prepare to return to the classroom, Family First has just released a Parent Guide - on how to protect your children from the ...

Countering ‘Hate Speech’ Laws in New Zealand (Aotearoa)

Controversial “hate-speech” laws continue to be proposed by the Labour Government under the pretence of ‘the public good’.

RESEARCH – ‘Alarming’ Data on Youth Mental Health

Family First's latest report shows that New Zealand's youth lead the developed world in poor mental health.

SURVEY – Cost Of Living Top Concern Of Kiwis

A new nationwide survey has found the cost of living is by far the most pressing concern of New Zealanders at the moment.

RESEARCH – Measuring Father Absence in NZ

Thousands of New Zealand children struggle with having no father in their lives. A new report measures Father Absence.

ANALYSIS – NZ Media’s extreme pro-abortion bias

In-depth analysis of the media coverage of Roe v Wade found that extreme media bias (82%) to a pro-abortion narrative.

Family First v The Government (Charities Registration Board)

Here is a summary of events relating to the de-registration of Family First NZ by the Charities Board.

The ‘Eggsploitation’ of Surrogacy

The Law Commission is currently reviewing surrogacy laws in New Zealand and Family First has just sent in a submission.

ANALYSIS – Significant Media Bias During ‘Conversion Therapy’ Debate

In-depth analysis found heavily biased media coverage in favour of banning conversion therapy.

Sex education gets much more extreme

Radical gender ideologies & sex education material being recommended by the Ministry of Education, politicians and activists to be taught in schools.

RESEARCH – Relationships & Sexuality Education – An Analysis for Parents & Caregivers

The new Relationships and Sexuality Education Guidelines produced by the Ministry of Education will be very concerning to all parents and caregivers.

RESEARCH – Prostitution Law Review

An in-depth review of the effects of the 2003 prostitution law change has revealed a huge gap between the reputation of the law and its ...

3 Strikes Law

Family First NZ says that the proposed scrapping of the Three Strikes Law will only be celebrated by repeat violent offenders, but it will do ...

RESEARCH – Teen Birth Rate in NZ (2021)

Is it time to stop worrying about the teenage birth rate? Or, alternatively, do those teen mothers exhibiting the greatest risk as parents persist as ...

Birth Certificates – Biology or Ideology

The Government is changing the law around birth certificates, which will deem them meaningless, and which will continue its pushing of confusing ‘gender ideology’.

Banning ‘conversion therapy’ – criminalising parents, carers and counsellors

Banning 'conversion therapy' is effectively criminalising parents, carers and counsellors.

Hate Speech Law vs Free Speech

One of the most disturbing realities of criminalising “hateful” speech is that there is simply no universally agreed upon definition of what constitutes “hate” in ...

Beware of Critical Theory – it’s everywhere

What Is Critical Theory? We've prepared this post to explain Critical Theory, and how this is playing out in New Zealand.

Decriminalising Drugs – Lessons from Portugal (2021)

What lessons can we learn from a report about Portugal’s decriminalisation of drugs.

RESEARCH – Abortion, effects on health of women (2021)

A research paper for health professionals which reviews international evidence up to 2020 about the relationship between abortion and the physical and mental health of ...

COVID Vaccine – Making an informed decision

We’re being asked on a regular basis – what’s Family First’s view of the COVID-19 vaccine?

Call for inquiry on public health harms of pornography

Family First NZ is calling on politicians to investigate the public health effects and societal harms of pornography. The request states: “That an expert panel ...

Euthanasia – We can live without it

Euthanasia and assisted suicide put many of us in danger. Nothing in this Act guarantees the protection required for vulnerable people.

Abortion – Fatal Flaws in the Abortion Legislation Act 2020

Read this detailed summary of the flawed Abortion Legislation Act 2020, which is one of the most extreme abortion laws in the world.

MEDIA – Making a complaint

Learn how to make a complaint about anything in the media - advertisements, television and radio programmes, print media, online media.

Sexuality & Gender ‘Education’ in Schools

We are constantly being contacted by concerned parents and being asked our opinion on the sex education curriculum in NZ schools. Learn more...

Lessons from Cannabis Legalisation in USA

The report “Lessons From Cannabis Legalisation 2020”, is a comprehensive study of the data outcomes in ‘legalised’ marijuana states in the U.S and other countries. ...

RESEARCH – Challenges facing children in stepfamilies (2020)

A report on the challenges facing children in stepfamilies - What we know, don't know, and how to fill in the gaps.

RESEARCH – Anti-Smacking Law (2020) – “it’s a dog’s breakfast”

Research shows that 13 years on, the Anti-Smacking Law is a "dog's breakfast"

RESEARCH – Gender and Transgender Issues – Parent Guide 2020

Why is it that so many young people today are wondering if they were born in the wrong body? With popular endorsements coming from the ...

RESEARCH – Report on NZ Fertility (2019)

New Zealand’s birth rate has hit at an all-time low. In 2018 there were only 11.87 births per 1,000 of the population. The total fertility ...

RESEARCH – Childhood Gender Dysphoria (2018)

An epidemic of ‘childhood gender dysphoria’ is sweeping the Western world. Having exploded from rarity less than a decade ago, there is now an exponential ...

RESEARCH – Why Fathers Matter (2018)

No society can thrive without as many fathers as possible being involved daily in the lives of their children. A diverse and abundant body of ...

RESEARCH – Family Dinners & Family Life (2018)

In January 2018, an independent poll of 1000 New Zealanders found that 88% believed that dinners together on a regular basis were important, with two ...

RESEARCH – Imprisonment & Family Structure (2018)

A wealth of research has investigated associations between family structure and adverse outcomes, but surprisingly little has investigated prisoners’ childhood family backgrounds.

RESEARCH – Why Mothers Matter (2018)

WHY MOTHERS MATTER Released 11 May 2018 First NZ has released a report entitled “Why Mothers Matter” which provides a concise but broad and well-documented ...

RESEARCH – Abortion & Health of Women (2018)

ABORTION AND THE PHYSICAL & MENTAL HEALTH OF WOMEN A review of the evidence for health professionals Released 23 March 2018 A research paper for ...

RESEARCH – Child Abuse (2016)

CHILD ABUSE & FAMILY STRUCTURE What is the evidence telling us? Released 29 November 2016 This report follows on from Child Poverty & Family Structure: What is the evidence ...

RESEARCH – Child Poverty (2016)

CHILD POVERTY & FAMILY STRUCTURE What is the evidence telling us? Released 30 May 2016 Despite families being much smaller, parents being older, mothers being better ...

Our Research

Family First is a leading voice on family issues in the media and public domain. Our research is commissioned to educate, promote and advance further research on policies which support marriage, families, and safe communities as foundational to a strong and enduring society. Family First also hosts conferences and brings in international experts; produces and publishes relevant and stimulating material in newspapers, magazines, and other media; and enables families to make submissions to local and central government on issues affecting them. Our goal is to participate in social analysis and debate, and advocate for families regarding public policy and laws.

Check out our fact sheets summarising the key issues facing New Zealand society.

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Research & Issues

Research & Issues

Research, Surveys & Key Issues

Our Research

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