Those with overdue reparations may have their cars seized or towed away
Paul Goldsmith, justice minister, has made announcements regarding a technology trial seeking to clamp down on overdue court fines or reparations, as well as new bills aiming to help the government combat cybercrime and overhaul outdated electoral laws.
“There's been a long-standing slackness when it comes to bringing in fines and I've given very strong instructions to the Ministry of Justice to find ways to collect them,” Goldsmith said in a news release from the government.
According to Goldsmith, the government’s bailiffs are testing handheld devices on streets across the country and at certain breath testing stations, which can scan parked vehicles’ number plates and enable them to seize or tow away those whose owners have overdue fines.
“We know wheel clamping is already a successful enforcement tool and we want to build on that,” Goldsmith said. “Those who have suffered emotional harm or have had their property lost or damaged by an offender’s actions should not be left out of pocket.”
Goldsmith explained that the new technology seeks to assist the government in effectively enforcing court fines and ensuring that it can prioritise victims in its efforts to restore law and order.
“If you haven’t paid your court fines, you may soon find yourself walking home or needing a lift,” Goldsmith said in the government’s news release.
In another government news release, Goldsmith announced that legislation enabling New Zealand to join the Budapest Convention, the only binding international cybercrime treaty, passed its third reading in Parliament.
According to the news release, the treaty also known as the Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime aims to harmonise the laws of member countries and help law enforcement agencies work together on criminal investigations and access the resources necessary to detect, investigate, and prosecute criminal offences even when they occur online.
Goldsmith said New Zealand can show other nations with the same mindset that it plans to cooperate in the fight against cybercrime and crack down on such offences.
According to the news release, the bill’s following provisions will help New Zealand align its domestic laws with the Budapest Convention’s specifications:
“11 per cent of New Zealanders were victims of fraud and cybercrime in 2024, and the National Cyber Security Centre estimates $1.6 billion was lost to online threats,” Goldsmith said in the government’s news release. “The emotional and financial harm caused by cybercrime is significant, and such a quickly evolving threat warrants a coordinated response.”
In another government news release, Goldsmith said the government is introducing legislation intending to update unsustainable electoral laws.
According to the news release, the legislation will:
Goldsmith said allowing late enrolments burdens the system and leads to delays. Goldsmith added that the new offence concerning treating close to voting places aims to clarify and improve the rules.
“There has been some confusion in the past around what is and isn’t treating,” Goldsmith noted in the government’s news release.
According to the news release, the government also has another bill seeking to amend the Constitution Act 1986 to facilitate the executive government’s continuity following the election.
