Keeping children safe

Children train in our dojo throughout New Zealand. This page sets out how we protect them and what to do if something concerns you.

Our instructors are vetted

Everyone who instructs or supervises children in a MOKNZ dojo is police vetted before they teach, and re-vetted regularly.

Parents are always welcome

You may stay and watch any class, at any dojo, at any time. You never need to ask permission and you never need a reason.

Children are not taught behind closed doors.

How training is run

• Children never spar adults.
• Contact is introduced gradually and matched to age and grade.
• Protective equipment is compulsory for tournaments — see Karate for kids.
• Instruction happens in the open, in the dojo, during class time.

Raising a concern

If something worries you — about an instructor, another student, or anything you have seen or been told — you can raise it directly and it will be taken seriously.

You do not have to go through your dojo. If your concern is about someone at your dojo, contact the national officer directly.

If a child is in immediate danger

Call 111.

You can also contact Oranga Tamariki on 0508 326 459, at any hour, whether or not you have spoken to us.

You do not need our permission to report a concern to the authorities, and we will never ask you to come to us first.

Photographs

We ask permission before photographing a child for the website or social media, and we will remove any photograph on request.