Articles tagged with Department Of Internal Affairs

New Zealand Minister Proposes Safer Online Gambling Bill, Sets Stricter Rules for Operators

2 weeks ago | 242 views

Minister Brooke van Velden's Bill to regulate New Zealand's online gambling market passed its first reading in Parliament, aiming to protect players and ensure safer gambling practices. The Bill allows for up to 15 online gambling licences to be auctioned, with strict criteria for companies to meet, including harm prevention strategies and compliance history. The Department of Internal Affairs will enforce the new regulations, with fines of up to $5 million for rule violations, and public submissions on the Bill are encouraged as it moves to the select committee stage.

Tags: Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden Bill online gambling New Zealand player safety harm minimisation regulatory system Department of Internal Affairs licensed operators

Selwyn District Leads the Way in Water Services Reform with Launch of Selwyn Water

3 weeks ago | 249 views

Selwyn District is the first council in the country to launch its new water services entity, Selwyn Water, meaning safe, reliable, and affordable drinking water and wastewater for ratepayers, Local Government Minister Simon Watts says. “The launch of Selwyn District’s water service entity today marks a significant milestone of water reform, and I look forward to seeing similar Local Water Done Well plans progress in the coming months,” Mr Watts says. “Selwyn District Council is also the first council to have a Water Services Delivery Plan accepted and approved by the Secretary for Local Government, Paul James and the first to establish a water services council-controlled organisation (CCO) under the Coalition Government’s Local Water Done Well policy.

Tags: Selwyn District Simon Watts Local Government Minister Paul James Selwyn Water Water Services Delivery Plan Commerce Commission Department of Internal Affairs Sam Broughton Local Water Done Well

62 percent fewer scam texts reported after Internal Affairs crackdown

1 month ago | 344 views

Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Department of Internal Affairs [the Department] has made significant progress in tackling scams in New Zealand, with a 62 per cent drop in reports of SMS scams in 2024 from 2023, following the Department’s investigations into scammers. The Department’s 2024 Digital Messaging Transparency Report, published this week, details some of the actions the Department has taken to catch people perpetrating scams, including by conducting search warrants and seizing equipment. “Scams cause serious financial and emotional harm, often preying on vulnerable people in our communities.

Tags: Auckland Brooke van velden Department Department of internal affairs Digital Government Messaging transparency report New zealand Scott simpson Van veld Zealand