26 Feb 2026
8 months ago
1623 views
Since the Government was elected, a tough on crime approach and nearly doubling police foot patrols have led to 49,000 fewer victims of violent crime in New Zealand by October 2025. Key reforms include tougher sentencing, enhanced police powers, and coordinated efforts to reduce youth reoffending, resulting in significant drops in serious youth offenses and ram raids. Despite this progress, the Government remains committed to further law and order improvements, including new legislation to address disorderly behavior and strengthen trespass laws.
26 Feb 2026
8 months ago
1396 views
The Regulatory Standards Act, coming into law by July 1, mandates councils to publish Consistency Accountability Statements (CAS) explaining the impact, costs, and benefits of new bylaws, promoting transparency and accountability in local regulation. This legislation aims to curb poor regulation that burdens ratepayers and stifles productivity by requiring councils to justify and regularly review their secondary legislation, ensuring laws are proportionate and evidence-based. The Act supports better governance by helping councils avoid kneejerk regulations, improve decision-making quality, and ultimately deliver greater value to taxpayers and communities.
22 Feb 2026
8 months ago
1407 views
The New Zealand Government is amending the Summary Offences Act to grant police the power to issue move-on orders to individuals exhibiting disorderly or disruptive behavior, obstructing access to businesses, begging, or rough sleeping in public places. These orders will require individuals aged 14 or older to leave a specified area for up to 24 hours and move a reasonable distance away, aiming to enhance public safety and reduce disturbances in city centers. Police will assess each situation individually and collaborate with social and housing services to provide support where necessary.
20 Feb 2026
8 months ago
1309 views
Attorney-General Judith Collins announced the appointment of Brett Donald Tantrum, an experienced Auckland barrister and solicitor, as a High Court Judge effective 30 March 2026. Justice Tantrum has extensive expertise in criminal law, including prosecuting serious offences such as homicide, organised crime, and sexual violence, and has served as a Principal Crown Prosecutor since 2017. His career includes roles at Meredith Connell, a professional exchange in Sydney, and involvement in criminal appeals and public law matters.
20 Feb 2026
8 months ago
1400 views
Courts Minister Nicole McKee announced a 22 percent reduction in the District Court’s criminal backlog over the past year, equating to 1,562 fewer cases awaiting hearing, thanks to coordinated efforts across the justice sector. Key improvements include better judicial rostering, trial preparedness, fewer adjournments, enhanced performance reporting, and upcoming legislative reforms to further expedite justice. This progress significantly benefits victims by reducing delays, stress, and uncertainty, while the Family Court backlog also decreased by 9 percent during the same period.
20 Feb 2026
8 months ago
1330 views
Courts Minister Nicole McKee announced a 22 percent reduction in the District Court’s criminal backlog over the past year, equating to 1,562 fewer cases waiting to be heard, reflecting a coordinated justice sector effort. Key improvements include better judicial rostering, trial preparedness, fewer adjournments, and enhanced performance reporting, resulting in faster justice and reduced stress for victims. Further reforms, such as expanding Community Magistrates' powers and promoting remote court participation, aim to continue this progress and improve court efficiency nationwide.
18 Feb 2026
8 months ago
1407 views
Starting 30 March 2026, New Zealand's Proceeds of Crime Fund will reopen to allocate seized criminal assets toward initiatives aimed at reducing violent crime and enhancing public safety. The fund prioritizes high-impact, outcome-focused programs that prevent lower-level offending, dismantle gang operations, and support community partnerships, with strict criteria and short-term investments up to three years. Recent funded projects include improved safety measures in Auckland’s CBD and community-led efforts like the Meke Academy, reflecting a commitment to redirect criminal proceeds to protect victims and prevent further crime.
17 Feb 2026
8 months ago
1431 views
The Government is introducing the Social Security (Accident Compensation and Calculation of Weekly Income) Amendment Bill to clarify how ACC payments affect welfare entitlements and ensure fair treatment between different recipient groups. The bill aims to align the law with longstanding policy by authorizing MSD to retrospectively adjust benefits when backdated ACC payments reduce welfare to zero and to prevent inequities where some recipients receive dual income support for the same need. This legislation responds to court rulings and will not apply retrospectively to cases filed before the bill’s introduction, promoting fairness and certainty in the welfare system.
13 Feb 2026
8 months ago
1638 views
Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee has released New Zealand’s Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) National Strategy for 2026–2030, aiming to streamline compliance and strengthen enforcement against serious crime. The strategy emphasizes a risk-based approach to reduce unnecessary paperwork for low-risk transactions while enhancing focus on genuine risks, supported by a single AML/CFT supervisor under the Department of Internal Affairs from July 2024. This reform seeks to provide clearer guidance, reduce compliance costs, and deliver significant regulatory relief, building on previous efforts to simplify customer verification and improve the AML/CFT system.
12 Feb 2026
8 months ago
1389 views
The Health and Safety at Work Amendment Bill, welcomed by Minister Brooke van Velden, aims to reform New Zealand’s workplace health and safety laws by providing clearer guidance through strengthened Approved Codes of Practice (ACOPs) and clarifying WorkSafe’s regulatory functions. The Bill introduces practical changes, such as creating safe harbours for compliance, easing obligations for small low-risk businesses, and defining directors' due diligence duties to reduce duplication and focus on governance. These reforms seek to reduce business uncertainty and compliance costs while improving safety outcomes by making WorkSafe a more consistent and supportive agency.
10 Feb 2026
9 months ago
1406 views
The Armed Forces Discipline Law Amendment Bill aims to modernize New Zealand’s military justice system by making it fairer, more efficient, and transparent, aligning it with civilian justice developments. It introduces a Minor Discipline Sanction System for low-level offenses, streamlines serious cases to Court Martial, enhances search powers with better protections, and expands rights such as trial by Court Martial and drug testing. These reforms ensure stronger discipline and operational readiness within the Armed Forces while upholding high standards for personnel.
05 Feb 2026
9 months ago
1382 views
New Zealand agencies, including Customs, Defence Force, and GCSB, collaborated with French authorities and the US DEA to intercept 4.24 tonnes of cocaine in French Polynesia as part of Operation Kiwa. This operation is the first major success of the Transnational, Serious and Organised Crime (TSOC) Action Plan aimed at targeting maritime transnational crime networks in the Pacific. The campaign emphasizes international cooperation and enhanced intelligence and surveillance to protect New Zealand and its Pacific partners from organised crime.
29 Jan 2026
9 months ago
1476 views
The Crown and Ngāti Hāua have concluded nine years of negotiations with settlement legislation passing in Parliament, acknowledging historical Treaty breaches and returning 64 culturally significant sites along with $19 million in financial redress. The legislation also provides statutory pardons for Te Rangiātea and Mātene Ruta Te Whareaitu, who were wrongfully tried under martial law in 1846, restoring their mana and honouring their legacy. This settlement aims to restore the relationship between the Crown and Ngāti Hāua and support the iwi’s economic, social, and cultural wellbeing for future generations.
28 Jan 2026
9 months ago
1623 views
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced that Hon Judith Collins KC will be appointed President of the New Zealand Law Commission and will not stand as an MP in the 2026 election. Luxon praised Collins for her over two decades of dedicated public service, legal expertise, and leadership in various government roles. Collins will continue as an MP until her new position begins in mid-2026.
20 Dec 2025
10 months ago
1744 views
Associate Police Minister Casey Costello announced a new all-of-government strategy and action plan to combat Transnational, Serious and Organised Crime (TSOC) in New Zealand, aiming to make the country the hardest place for organised criminal groups to operate. The plan focuses on improving cross-agency coordination, information sharing, addressing methamphetamine harm, and strengthening community resilience through initiatives like ROCC. This five-year strategy responds to increasing organised crime threats, including drug trade and money laundering, and is informed by expert advice to enhance governance, accountability, and resource use across government agencies.