13 Feb 2026
8 months ago
1479 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.
05 Feb 2026
8 months ago
1322 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.
20 Dec 2025
10 months ago
1657 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.
03 Dec 2025
10 months ago
1038 views
The Government’s Crimes Amendment Bill introduces stronger penalties for assaults on first responders, coward punches, human trafficking, and retail crime to ensure criminals face real consequences and protect victims. It establishes new specific offences, enhances citizen’s arrest powers, and implements a new shoplifting infringement regime to address ongoing challenges in law and order. The legislation aims to be passed before the next election, fulfilling commitments made in the National-New Zealand First coalition agreement.
30 Nov 2025
10 months ago
1434 views
Two new high-security units with 316 beds will be built at Hawke’s Bay Regional Prison, increasing its capacity from 755 to 1,071 by early 2027 to address the rising prison population driven by law-and-order measures. This expansion complements recent and ongoing projects at Waikeria and Christchurch Men’s Prisons, which together will add over 1,500 beds by 2029, while Corrections has also bolstered frontline staff with nearly 900 new officers since February 2024. These efforts aim to safely manage growth in the prison population, predominantly violent and gang-affiliated offenders, and maintain public safety without requiring additional funding.
21 Nov 2025
11 months ago
1117 views
The Government is exceeding its violent crime reduction target, with 147,000 victims of serious violent crime reported in the past year, 38,000 fewer than when they took office. Tough gang laws introduced a year ago have significantly contributed to this decline by targeting gang-related crime, resulting in numerous seizures and convictions. Ministers emphasize their commitment to law and order, highlighting police efforts and the disproportionate gang involvement in serious violent crime despite their small population size.
20 Nov 2025
11 months ago
1194 views
Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee has introduced a ministerial exemption to the AML/CFT Act 2009, allowing banks to share anti-money laundering information to better prevent fraud and scams. This reduction in red tape enables banks to act faster and collaborate more effectively to freeze scam transfers before funds are lost overseas. The government aims to create more agile regulatory settings by freeing businesses from excessive compliance burdens while targeting actual financial criminals through wider AML/CFT reforms.
19 Nov 2025
11 months ago
1113 views
New Zealand has passed legislation making stalking a criminal offence punishable by up to five years in prison, addressing long-overdue protections against persistent and harmful intrusions. The new law defines stalking as a pattern of behavior likely to cause fear or distress, including acts such as following, unwanted communication, and damaging reputations, with the offence coming into force in May 2026. This legislation prioritizes victim needs, particularly protecting women and children, and includes a police notice system and relevant defenses to effectively combat stalking and harassment.
19 Nov 2025
11 months ago
1203 views
Parliament has passed new legislation making stalking a criminal offence punishable by up to five years in prison, addressing persistent and harmful behaviours that cause emotional, psychological, and economic harm to victims. The law defines stalking as a pattern of behaviour likely to cause fear or distress, including acts like following, unwanted communication, and damaging reputations, with enforcement beginning in May 2026 after necessary training and public information are prepared. Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith emphasized the importance of prioritizing victims, particularly women and children, and acknowledged the advocacy efforts that helped bring the legislation to fruition.
19 Nov 2025
11 months ago
1235 views
New Zealand has passed the Crimes (Countering Foreign Interference) Amendment Bill to strengthen protections against deceptive, corruptive, or coercive foreign interference. The legislation creates new offences criminalizing foreign interference and updates espionage-related laws to safeguard national security. While encouraging transparent diplomatic and lobbying activities, the law aims to hold accountable those engaging in covert or harmful foreign influence.
19 Nov 2025
11 months ago
1075 views
New Zealand has passed the Crimes (Countering Foreign Interference) Amendment Bill to better protect the country from deceptive, corruptive, or coercive foreign activities aimed at manipulating society. The legislation creates new offences specifically criminalizing foreign interference and updates existing laws related to espionage and wrongful communication of government information. While normal diplomatic and transparent engagements remain unaffected, the government emphasizes that foreign interference will no longer be tolerated.
09 Nov 2025
11 months ago
1200 views
The Government is using seized criminal money to fund a nationwide anti-methamphetamine campaign, aiming to reduce violent crime and support victims. Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee emphasizes the destructive impact of meth on families and communities, highlighting the importance of providing help for recovery. The campaign, led by Health New Zealand, is part of a broader effort to combat organized crime, with a focus on cutting off illegal profits and making communities safer.
09 Oct 2025
1 year ago
1220 views
The Cabinet has decided to amend the Policing Act to clarify Police's authority to gather intelligence in public places and expand their powers to temporarily close areas in response to antisocial behavior or safety risks. Recent court decisions have raised uncertainty about Police's ability to record images in public spaces, prompting the proposed amendments to reaffirm their authority for lawful purposes. These changes aim to restore Police's crime prevention capabilities, support prosecutions, respond to evolving threats like organized crime, and enhance interventions for public safety, youth offending, and family harm.
31 Aug 2025
1 year ago
1345 views
The Government is exceeding its violent crime reduction target as Police deploy more officers on the beat, with Henderson in West Auckland being the next focus area. Since receiving funding in Budget 2024, 63 beat officers have been deployed across major cities and districts, set to increase to 70 with the launch of Henderson's team. The increased police presence through beat teams and Retail Crime Units is contributing significantly to deterring crime and ensuring community safety, with a decrease in serious violent crime victims reported in the latest data.
24 Jul 2025
1 year ago
2424 views
New Zealand passes legislation to enhance protection against cybercrime, with 11% of citizens falling victim to online threats in 2024, resulting in significant emotional and financial harm. Joining the Budapest Convention will enable cooperation with other countries in criminal investigations and align domestic laws with international standards. Provisions in the Bill include new preservation directions, amendments to enhance mutual assistance in criminal matters, and updates to the Crimes Act to address cybercrime comprehensively.