Silence as a Crime: State Before Family?

Civil liberties advocate Nathan Seiuli, of Pillar, examines National's proposed Crimes Act amendment that would criminalize silence in child murder investigations, potentially carrying a ten-year prison sentence for those who refuse to speak.

Mr Seiuli argues the policy inverts the presumption of innocence and undermines the fundamental right to silence, warning that coerced confessions often produce blame rather than truth and set a precedent for expanding state overreach into other "harmful" circumstances. While acknowledging the genuine push for justice for child victims, he instead advocates strengthening investigations, forensic capability and limited immunity provisions rather than stripping away individual rights ([www.nzpillar.com](https://www.nzpillar.com)).

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