Law News & Articles
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New Zealand Bolsters Cybercrime Protection with Budapest Convention Passage
24 Jul 2025, 4:25 PM | 1 year ago | 2346 viewsNew 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.
Tags: New Zealanders cybercrime legislation Paul Goldsmith fraud National Cyber Security Centre Budapest Convention Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime law enforcement agencies criminal investigationsNew Zealand Passes Ground-Based Space Infrastructure Legislation for National Security
23 Jul 2025, 11:29 AM | 1 year ago | 1953 viewsNew Zealand's Parliament has passed legislation under urgency to regulate ground-based space infrastructure, enhancing national security and protecting against foreign interference, according to Space Minister Judith Collins. The Outer Space High Altitude Activities Amendment Bill aims to ensure the safe and responsible use of space, with oversight and safeguards for satellite operations starting from 29 July. Operators will need to meet security requirements and undergo due diligence to obtain authorisation, with enforcement powers in place to address any national security concerns.
Tags: Legislation foreign interference national interests Space Minister Judith Collins national security satellite operations regulatory settings MBIE enforcement powersLegislation Amendment Bill Enhances Access to Law and Government Services
22 Jul 2025, 8:14 PM | 1 year ago | 2016 viewsA bill to improve access to secondary legislation and digitize government services has passed its first reading, aiming to make legislation easier to find and comply with. Attorney-General Judith Collins highlights the importance of high-quality legislation that is easy to understand and use. The bill standardizes publication practices for secondary legislation and includes the redevelopment of the New Zealand legislation website to provide a one-stop shop for all legislation matters.
Tags: Judith Collins Legislation Amendment Bill secondary legislation regulations orders rules exemptions bylaws notices instrumentsGovernment Launches Anti-Corruption Taskforce Pilot to Safeguard Public Funds
18 Jul 2025, 1:27 PM | 1 year ago | 1981 viewsA cross-agency Anti-Corruption Taskforce pilot led by the Serious Fraud Office, supported by NZ Police and the Public Service Commission, aims to combat corruption and fraud risks in the public sector. The taskforce seeks to enhance New Zealand's reputation as a transparent and trustworthy place to invest by strengthening fraud prevention and detection systems within participating agencies. By promoting ethical conduct, transparency, and accountability, the taskforce aligns with the Government's efforts to maintain public trust and integrity in institutions.
Tags: Government Public Sector Mark Mitchell Judith Collins Serious Fraud Office NZ Police Public Service Commission Corruption FraudNew Zealand Minister Proposes Safer Online Gambling Bill, Sets Stricter Rules for Operators
15 Jul 2025, 4:10 PM | 1 year ago | 1952 viewsMinister 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 operatorsNew Zealand to Reform AML/CFT Laws for Small Businesses: Minister McKee Announces Overhaul
10 Jul 2025, 9:55 AM | 1 year ago | 1774 viewsAssociate Justice Minister Nicole McKee says that small businesses will benefit from upcoming reforms to New Zealand’s Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) laws, as the Government moves to make compliance more proportionate and practical for low-risk operators. Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee has announced Cabinet’s approval to draft a new Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism (Omnibus) Amendment Bill to overhaul the existing system. Under current rules, even small businesses and professionals, such as real estate agents, face complex and time-consuming checks, often regardless of how much risk they face,” Mrs McKee says.
Tags: Nicole McKee Justice Minister small businesses reforms compliance customer due diligence real estate agents simplified checksNew Zealand Government Strengthens AML/CFT Regime to Combat Financial Crime
09 Jul 2025, 2:56 PM | 1 year ago | 1996 viewsAssociate Justice Minister Nicole McKee today announced further steps in the Government’s overhaul of the AML/CFT regime, strengthening efforts to combat serious financial crime. “This Government is serious about targeting criminals, not tying up legitimate businesses in unnecessary red tape,” Mrs McKee says. “Cabinet has agreed to introduce a bill to strengthen enforcement powers for Police and regulators to crack down on those involved in money laundering.
Tags: Nicole McKee financial crime Police regulators financial sanctions crypto currencies Financial Intelligence Unit New Zealand businesses criminals.Government Reforms to AML/CFT Act Ease Property Transactions for Kiwi Families
08 Jul 2025, 10:09 AM | 1 year ago | 1898 viewsAssociate Justice Minister Nicole McKee says the Government is continuing to cut through unnecessary bureaucracy with reforms to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Act, which will make life easier for hard-working Kiwi families managing property through family trusts. “For thousands of New Zealanders, setting up a family trust is part of securing their financial future, especially when it comes to their home. But under the current AML regime, selling a house held in a trust triggers a burdensome level of document verification and compliance checks that has little to do with actual risk,” Mrs McKee says.
Tags: Nicole McKee Justice Minister Family Trusts Real Estate Agents New Zealanders Financial Future Compliance Checks Property ManagementGovernment Strengthens Trespass Laws to Safeguard Businesses: Proposed Changes and Impact Explained
03 Jul 2025, 3:39 PM | 1 year ago | 2273 viewsThe Government is strengthening trespass laws to make them more effective and practical for businesses, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee say. “We know our trespass laws are no longer fit for purpose. They’re difficult to enforce and often criminals take no notice.
Tags: Government trespass laws businesses Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee law and order community properties offenders Retail MAGGovernment Implements Stronger Penalties for Shoplifters to Restore Justice and Public Confidence
01 Jul 2025, 6:38 PM | 1 year ago | 2045 viewsThe Government is making it easier for police to punish shoplifters and is introducing stronger penalties for low-level theft, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee say. “Public confidence in our justice system is undermined if people can steal with apparent impunity. It’s disheartening, and our government will not sit by while shoplifters rob businesses of their livelihoods,” Mr Goldsmith says.
Tags: Government Police Shoplifting Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKeeNew Zealand Introduces Online Casino Gambling Bill for Regulation and Consumer Protection
30 Jun 2025, 5:57 PM | 1 year ago | 1946 viewsMinister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden has today introduced the Online Casino Gambling Bill to the House of Representatives. “The Online Casino Gambling Bill will introduce a regulatory system for online gambling in New Zealand, which will prioritise harm minimisation, consumer protection, and tax collection,” says Ms van Velden. Cabinet has previously agreed to introduce new legislation to regulate the online casino gambling market, which is currently unregulated in New Zealand.
Tags: Brooke van velden Coalition government House of representatives New zealand Online casino gambling billNew 'Coward Punch' Laws: Tougher Penalties for Offenders in New Zealand
30 Jun 2025, 5:48 PM | 1 year ago | 2863 viewsThe Government is introducing specific coward punch offences to ensure perpetrators receive tougher sentences, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “A ‘coward punch’ gets its name for obvious reasons. These attacks affect everyday Kiwis and are often committed by cowardly attackers, who strike when the victim is distracted.
Tags: National New zealand first Paul goldsmith Three strikes regimeNew Offences for Assaulting First Responders & Prison Officers: Tougher Penalties Proposed by Justice Minister Goldsmith
29 Jun 2025, 6:23 PM | 1 year ago | 2600 viewsThe Government is introducing new offences to ensure those who assault on-duty first responders or prison officers spend longer in prison, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Where others may flee, first responders and prison officers run towards danger to help those who need urgent assistance. “Assaulting them puts multiple lives at risk, so there must be greater consequences for these heinous acts of violence.
Tags: Goldsmith National / New zealand New zealand first Paul goldsmith Protection for first responders and prison officersNew Legislation Ensures Fair Treatment of Boarder and Rental Payments for Housing Subsidies
25 Jun 2025, 10:57 AM | 1 year ago | 2427 viewsLegislation fixing the inconsistent treatment of boarder and rental payments has been passed into law in Parliament today. The Social Assistance Legislation (Accommodation Supplement and Income-related Rent) Amendment Bill and the supporting legislation of the Social Security (Mandatory Reviews) Amendment Bill has addressed the inconsistent treatment of board and rent payments around housing subsidies. “This has been an unnecessarily complicated and confusing system,” says Minister for Social Development and Employment Louise Upston.
Tags: Amendment bill Louise upston Mandatory reviews Related rent Social assistance legislation Social development and employment Social security Social securitydatory reviews SulementKiwi Red Tape Woes: Outdated Probate Threshold Causes Delays in Estate Administration
21 Jun 2025, 8:21 AM | 1 year ago | 2230 viewsRegulation Minister David Seymour says that red tape is giving Kiwis serious headaches, and the Red Tape Tipline has received over 750 submissions. “A submitter to the Ministry for Regulation’s Red Tape Tipline has complained that the threshold for probate has not kept up with inflation. This means that more Kiwis have to go through the tedious legal process that is probate, while they are mourning,” Mr Seymour says.
Tags: Administration All blacks Cabinet David seymour High court Justice Ministry Ministry for regulation New zealand Paul goldsmith Red tape tipline Regulation Regulations Rugby world cup Seymour