New Zealand Emails Reveal Social Media Ban Event Planned Before Cabinet Approval

Newly disclosed emails show Christopher Luxon's office scheduled an August 24 announcement on New Zealand's proposed under-16 social media ban in a July 23 message, before Cabinet approved introducing the legislation. By August 13, Parliament's Grand Hall was booked in Education Minister Erica Stanford's name for about 80 attendees. Cabinet approved the bill's introduction on August 24, and the event followed that afternoon. Stanford said the announcement was subject to Cabinet approval; without agreement, the event could still have discussed online harms. Coalition partners ACT and NZ First opposed the ban, with ACT saying it would vote against it.