Articles tagged with Crime
New Zealand Criminalizes Stalking with Up to 5 Years Prison Starting Tonight
1 month ago | 278 viewsStarting tonight, stalking becomes a criminal offense in New Zealand, punishable by up to five years in prison, signaling the government's commitment to addressing this harmful behavior. The new law defines stalking as a pattern of behavior likely to cause fear or distress, including acts such as following, contacting, damaging property, and doxing, with legal mechanisms like police notices and sentencing limits in place. This legislation responds to widespread advocacy and aims to protect victims, particularly women, from the serious emotional, psychological, and economic harm caused by stalking and harassment.
Tags: Paul Goldsmith Justice Minister stalking harassment Crimes Legislation Amendment Act New Zealand victims sexual violence Justice Committee doxingBudget 2026 Boosts NZ Customs with $81.5M to Fight Drugs and Crime
1 month ago | 294 viewsBudget 2026 allocates $81.5 million to enhance New Zealand Customs' capacity to combat illegal drugs and organized crime through upgraded equipment, improved facilities, and expanded international presence. The funding supports two main initiatives: $70.7 million for domestic border security enhancements and $10.8 million to establish four new international liaison posts in strategic regions to disrupt criminal networks offshore. Customs Minister Casey Costello emphasizes the importance of these investments in strengthening border protection, international cooperation, and maintaining efficient trade facilitation amid rising smuggling threats.
Tags: Budget 2026 Customs New Zealand Casey Costello transnational crime illicit drugs smuggling border security international posts organised crimeCustoms Minister Casey Costello Visits Samoa and Fiji for Pacific Crime Summit
1 month ago | 285 viewsCustoms and Associate Police Minister Casey Costello is visiting Samoa and Fiji to fulfill her responsibilities and attend the Pacific Transnational Crime Summit Minister’s meeting. The summit, jointly hosted by Fiji and Australia, gathers over 15 Pacific Police Ministers to enhance regional cooperation against transnational crime. During her visit, Ms. Costello is meeting with Samoan officials and conducting operational visits to key security facilities in Samoa.
Tags: Casey Costello Masinalupe Leatuavao Makesi Pisi Samoa Fiji Pacific Transnational Crime Summit Customs Associate Police Minister Pacific Police Ministers New Zealand Apia Port$11.9M Reinvested to Combat Meth and Gang Harm in NZ Communities
1 month ago | 321 viewsNew Zealand's government will reinvest $11.9 million seized from criminals into the Resilience to Organised Crime in Communities (ROCC) programme to combat methamphetamine and gang-related harm. ROCC collaborates with police and community groups across seven regions to prevent gang recruitment, support offenders, and aid communities affected by drug and gang activity through practical initiatives with measurable outcomes. This funding, sourced from the Proceeds of Crime Fund, underscores the government's commitment to reducing organized crime and its impact on vulnerable populations without relying solely on enforcement.
Tags: Nicole McKee Casey Costello ROCC Proceeds of Crime Fund New Zealand methamphetamine gangs organised crime Police WELLfedNew Zealand Imposes New Sanctions Targeting Russian Cyber Actors and Supporters
1 month ago | 341 viewsNew Zealand has announced its 35th round of sanctions targeting 20 individuals and entities supporting Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine, including those involved in cybercrime, propaganda, and military support. The sanctions also address an alternative payment provider facilitating sanctions evasion and actors from the DPRK and Iran aiding Russia’s military-industrial complex. Since March 2022, New Zealand has sanctioned over 2000 targets and continues to implement measures to counter Russia’s aggression.
Tags: Winston Peters Russia Ukraine New Zealand Kremlin DPRK Iran cybercrime sanctions Ministry of Foreign Affairs and TradeYouth Offending Rates Drop 25%: Positive Impact of Child and Youth Strategy Report
2 months ago | 440 viewsThe latest Annual Report on the Child and Youth Strategy highlights a significant reduction in youth offending, with serious and persistent offenders decreasing by 25 percent since June 2023, surpassing the original 2030 goal. Communities feel safer as young people make better choices, and there has also been a noted reduction in substantiated child abuse and neglect cases. Minister Karen Chhour praises the progress, thanks Oranga Tamariki staff, and emphasizes ongoing efforts to address generational issues and encourage reporting concerns to protect children.
Tags: Karen Chhour youth offending child and youth strategy Oranga Tamariki youth crime serious young offenders child abuse social workers Minister for Children Reports of ConcernNZ Customs Minister Casey Costello to Attend Global Fraud Summit in Europe
3 months ago | 543 viewsCustoms and Associate Police Minister Casey Costello will attend the Global Fraud Summit in Vienna to address the growing issue of fraud, which is a prevalent crime in New Zealand linked to international organized crime and money laundering. The summit, hosted by INTERPOL and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, emphasizes the need for international cooperation to combat transnational fraud. After the summit, Minister Costello will visit Geneva and London for meetings related to her Customs, Police, and Health responsibilities.
Tags: Casey Costello New Zealand INTERPOL UN Office on Drugs and Crime Global Fraud Summit London Vienna United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Red Cross Red CrescentViolent Crime Drops by 49,000 in NZ with Increased Police Patrols and Reforms
3 months ago | 744 viewsSince 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.
Tags: Paul Goldsmith Mark Mitchell Karen Chhour New Zealand violent crime Police Oranga Tamariki Crimes Amendment Bill Three Strikes youth offendingProceeds of Crime Fund 2026 Opens to Fight Violent Crime and Support NZ Safety
4 months ago | 630 viewsStarting 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.
Tags: Nicole McKee Proceeds of Crime Fund New Zealand violent crime organised crime gangs Meke Academy Ministry of Justice Auckland Hawke’s BayNew Zealand's AML/CFT 2026-2030 Strategy: Cutting Red Tape, Boosting Enforcement
4 months ago | 789 viewsAssociate 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.
Tags: Nicole McKee New Zealand Countering Financing of Terrorism Department of Internal Affairs Ministry of Justice regulatory reform financial crime national strategyNew Zealand and French Agencies Seize 4.24 Tonnes of Cocaine in Pacific Operation
4 months ago | 728 viewsNew 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.
Tags: Casey Costello New Zealand Customs Service New Zealand Defence Force Government Communications Security Bureau United States Drug Enforcement Agency French authorities Operation Kiwa Transnational Serious and Organised Crime French Polynesia New ZealandNew Zealand Unveils Stronger 5-Year Plan to Combat Organised Crime and Harm
6 months ago | 1006 viewsAssociate 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.
Tags: Casey Costello New Zealand TSOC Organised Crime Methamphetamine Ministerial Advisory Group Resilience to Organised Crime Transnational Crime Money Laundering Pacific NeighboursGovernment Introduces Stronger Penalties for Assaults, Coward Punches, and Retail Crime
6 months ago | 579 viewsThe 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.
Tags: Crimes Amendment Bill Paul Goldsmith first responders coward punches human trafficking retail crime citizen’s arrest shoplifting infringement prison officersNew High-Security Units at Hawke’s Bay Prison to Boost Capacity by 2027
6 months ago | 834 viewsTwo 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.
Tags: Mark Mitchell Hawke’s Bay Regional Prison Naylor Love Waikeria Prison Christchurch Men’s Prison Corrections New Zealand prison population violent crime Corrections OfficersNZ Government Ahead of Violent Crime Reduction Target One Year After Tough Gang Laws
7 months ago | 625 viewsThe 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.
Tags: Paul Goldsmith Mark Mitchell New Zealand violent crime gang laws Gangs Act 2024 Ministry of Justice Police crime reduction criminal justice system