Portfolio: Justice

NZ, Australia sign trial criminal history sharing MOU

Admin — Tue, 29 May 2012 23:06:00 +0000

Judith Collins | Justice

Justice Minister Judith Collins today signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Australia governing a trial of reciprocal sharing of criminal history information for employment vetting purposes. The Memorandum was jointly signed earlier today by Australia’s Minister for Justice, Hon Jason Clare. It follows the agreement announced on 29 January 2012 by Prime Ministers John Key and Julia Gillard to establish an initial six month trial with the Australian state of Queensland. ...

Crime, court appearances continue to fall

Beehive — Tue, 29 May 2012 02:48:00 +0000

Judith Collins | Justice

The number of people being prosecuted and sentenced in court has continued to decline in 2011, new statistics released by the Ministry of Justice show. ...

Justice sector funding pool for better results

Admin — Thu, 24 May 2012 02:26:00 +0000

Judith Collins | Budget 2012

A new cross-agency funding pool will give the justice sector flexibility to invest in areas that deliver better results to New Zealanders, Justice Minister Judith Collins says. The Justice Sector Fund allows money saved in one justice sector agency to be used in another. For example, the fund provides flexibility for savings to be redirected into the wider justice sector’s highest priorities, rather than being restricted to reinvestment in the same Vote. ...

Bill to protect jurors passes second reading

Beehive — Tue, 22 May 2012 10:08:00 +0000

Judith Collins | Justice

A Bill to protect the safety and privacy of jurors and to maintain the integrity and administration of the jury system passed its second reading at Parliament today. Justice Minister Judith Collins says the Juries (Jury Service and Protection of Particulars of Jury List Information) Amendment Bill ensures the privacy and safety of potential jurors, while also making much-needed changes to improve the efficiency of the jury system. ...

Less red tape for legal aid lawyers

Admin — Tue, 22 May 2012 02:29:00 +0000

Judith Collins | Justice

The Government is to streamline the application process for legal aid lawyers and extend the length of time they have to claim payments for work done, Justice Minister Judith Collins announced today. From 2 July, legal aid lawyers will have six months rather than the current three months to invoice the Ministry of Justice for work that has been undertaken. ...

Minister opens Hawke’s Bay PDS

Beehive — Thu, 17 May 2012 01:49:00 +0000

Judith Collins | Justice

Justice Minister Judith Collins says the Hawke’s Bay Public Defence Service (PDS) office will be part of the high quality legal aid system this Government is working towards. At the office’s official opening today, Ms Collins said the PDS delivers quality defence services to some of the most vulnerable New Zealanders. “The PDS is well regarded by judges, prosecutors and court staff, and it delivers great value for money. ...

Govt to take stand on cyber-bullying

Beehive — Fri, 11 May 2012 04:53:00 +0000

Judith Collins | Justice

Justice Minister Judith Collins has asked the Law Commission to fast-track its recommendations for reducing the harm caused by cyber-bullying. Ms Collins says the Government is extremely concerned about the growing incidence of this abhorrent bullying and the devastating effects it can have on young people. “Young people’s lives are increasingly enmeshed in social media and they are particularly at risk from the significant harm that can be caused by cyber-bullying.” ...

Stronger bail laws to protect public safety

Beehive — Thu, 10 May 2012 05:04:00 +0000

Judith Collins | Justice

A bill strengthening bail laws to improve public safety had its first reading in Parliament today, Justice Minister Judith Collins says. The Bail Amendment Bill makes it harder for those accused of serious offences to get bail, and improves the integrity and operational effectiveness of our bail system. “This Bill achieves the right balance between the public’s right to safety, and the right of alleged offenders to be considered innocent until proven guilty. ...

Minister opens South Island’s first PDS office

Admin — Thu, 10 May 2012 01:42:00 +0000

Judith Collins | Justice

Justice Minister Judith Collins officially opened the Dunedin Public Defence Service (PDS) office today. The PDS provides an in-house legal aid service, through the use of salaried staff who work alongside contracted legal aid lawyers. Ms Collins says the new Dunedin office will support the cost-effective, high quality legal aid system this Government is working towards. “The PDS delivers quality defence services to some of the most vulnerable New Zealanders,” Ms Collins says. ...

Prisoner compensation restrictions continued

Beehive — Wed, 02 May 2012 08:14:00 +0000

Judith Collins | Justice

A Bill to extend the applicability of the Prisoners’ and Victims’ Claims Act 2005 for a further year passed its first reading in Parliament today. The Prisoners’ and Victims’ Claims (2012 Expiry and Application Dates) Amendment Bill extends sunset clauses in the 2005 Act that would otherwise have caused certain provisions related to the award of prisoner compensation to lapse on 30 June 2012. ...

Govt welcomes 2011 General Election report

Admin — Wed, 02 May 2012 02:34:00 +0000

Judith Collins | Justice

Justice Minister Judith Collins has today welcomed the Electoral Commission's report on the 2011 General Election and Referendum. This is the first post-election report of the newly established Electoral Commission. “The report addresses services provided to electors to facilitate voting, enrolment and voting statistics and any significant issues that arose during the election and makes necessary recommendations,” said Ms Collins. ...

Address to Privacy Awareness Week

Admin — Tue, 01 May 2012 22:33:00 +0000

Judith Collins | Justice

Good morning Thank you for inviting me to address you this morning. It’s great to be here. This is an exciting – and challenging – time to be involved in privacy matters. The way people in countries like New Zealand interact with each other has significantly changed in the last 20 or so years. At the heart of this change is the ease of interaction through new communication technologies. ...

Alcohol Bill drives change in NZ’s drinking culture

Beehive — Tue, 01 May 2012 04:15:00 +0000

Judith Collins | Justice

Changes to the Alcohol Reform Bill, set to return to Parliament for final consideration next month, aim to drive a change in our drinking culture, says Justice Minister Judith Collins. ...

United States Secretary of Homeland Security to visit New Zealand

Admin — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 21:57:00 +0000

Judith Collins | Justice

Justice Minister Judith Collins has welcomed the announcement made in Washington, DC that United States Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano will visit New Zealand this week. Secretary Napolitano heads the 200,000-strong Department of Homeland Security, which is responsible for safeguarding domestic security from global terrorism and natural disasters, as well as dealing with immigration and trade security threats. ...

Unnecessary parole hearings to be reduced

Beehive — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 21:50:00 +0000

Judith Collins | Corrections

Justice Minister Judith Collins and Acting Corrections Minister Chester Borrows today announced Government plans to reduce unnecessary parole hearings for offenders which will reduce stress for victims of crime. “Cabinet has agreed to introduce screening of offenders to postpone unnecessary parole hearings where an offender has little chance of release,” Ms Collins said. ...

New chair for IPCA

Beehive — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 04:08:00 +0000

Judith Collins | Justice

Justice Minister Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Judge Sir David Carruthers KNZM as member and chairperson of the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA). Sir David Carruthers has been appointed for a term of five years, and replaces current IPCA chair, Justice Lowell Goddard QC, whose term has ended. “I would like to thank Justice Goddard and acknowledge the fine work she has done over the past five years. ...

Minister to attend SCLJ in Canberra

Beehive — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 04:14:00 +0000

Judith Collins | Justice

Justice Minister Judith Collins will travel to Canberra today to attend a meeting of the Standing Council of Law and Justice (SCLJ) on 12-13 April. The SCLJ is comprised of the Attorneys-General of Australia, its states and territories, and New Zealand's Minister of Justice. Norfolk Island has observer status at SCLJ meetings. Ministers will hear presentations and discussions on law and justice related issues and have the opportunity to put forward their representation’s perspective. ...

Retailers to keep knives SAFE

Admin — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 00:24:00 +0000

Chester Borrows | Justice

Associate Justice Minister Chester Borrows today launched a new Government initiative with the New Zealand Retailers Association promoting the safe storage, display and sale of knives. “This new initiative, called SAFE, is a voluntary initiative outlining to retailers four simple steps they can use to ensure knives are stored, displayed and sold safely in their shops. These are store and display knives safely, ask if concerned, focus on preventing theft, and educate employees,” says Mr Borrows. ...

Government to overhaul Privacy Act

Beehive — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 01:25:00 +0000

Judith Collins | Justice

Justice Minister Judith Collins today announced the Government will repeal and re-enact the Privacy Act 1993 following its review by the Law Commission. The Commission’s recent report Review of the Privacy Act 1993 made over 100 recommendations for reform and the Government will consider those recommendations as part of its wider reform of privacy. ...

JP convicted of fraud resigns

Admin — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 00:20:00 +0000

Chester Borrows | Justice

Associate Justice Minister Chester Borrows today welcomed the resignation of Papamoa Justice of the Peace Martin Elliott. “Justices of the Peace have always been people of high standing in our communities. The nature of their role means they must be people of unquestionable honesty and integrity,” says Mr Borrows. Elliott, a former Hamilton high school principal, pleaded guilty and was convicted recently of two fraud charges relating to work done on his personal property which was invoiced as part of a school construction project being undertaken at the time. ...

Search and Surveillance Bill becomes law

Beehive — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 05:09:00 +0000

Judith Collins | Justice

A bill giving clarity and certainty to outdated search and surveillance provisions has passed its third and final reading in Parliament today. Justice Minister Judith Collins says the new Search and Surveillance Act 2012 brings “order, certainty, clarity and consistency” to messy, unclear and outdated search and surveillance laws. The Act follows a 2007 Law Commission report that recommended search and surveillance powers be consolidated and updated. ...

Crimes Act strengthened to better protect children

Admin — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 00:08:00 +0000

Judith Collins | Justice

A new law making it an offence to stay silent when it is known that a child or vulnerable adult is at risk of death, grievous bodily harm or sexual assault takes affect today. The Crimes Amendment Act (No 3) 2011, passed in September last year, strengthens provisions in the Crimes Act 1961 particularly in relation to violent and sexual offending. Ms Collins says children are the most vulnerable members of our society and deserve special protection. ...

Bill strengthens journalists’ ability to protect sources

Beehive — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 01:27:00 +0000

Judith Collins | Justice

Bill strengthens journalists’ ability to protect sources A Bill to modernise and clarify search and surveillance laws would also significantly improve journalists’ ability to protect the identity of their sources by enhancing ‘journalistic privilege’ in New Zealand law. Justice Minister Judith Collins says the Search and Surveillance Bill recognises the media’s important role in a free and democratic society. ...

Amendments strengthen search and surveillance legislation

Beehive — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 03:51:00 +0000

Judith Collins | Justice

Justice Minister Judith Collins today released a Supplementary Order Paper (SOP) that contains proposed amendments to the Search and Surveillance Bill, which passed its second reading last week. The Search and Surveillance Bill aims to bring “order, certainty, clarity and consistency” to messy, unclear and outdated search and surveillance laws, following a 2007 Law Commission report that recommended search and surveillance powers be consolidated and updated. The Search and Surveillance Bill and the SOP are expected to be debated by Parliament later this week. ...

Name suppression rules tightened

Beehive — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 00:56:00 +0000

Judith Collins | Justice

Offenders will find it harder to get name suppression from the courts from today as the first group provisions in the Criminal Procedure Act 2011 come into force. Justice Minister Judith Collins said these provisions, which were passed late last year, represent a substantial reform to criminal procedure. ...

Minister opens Tauranga Public Defence Service

Beehive — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 05:06:00 +0000

Judith Collins | Justice

Justice Minister Judith Collins officially opened the Tauranga Public Defence Service (PDS) office today. The PDS provides an in house legal aid service, through the use of salaried staff who work along side contracted legal aid lawyers. “The Public Defence Service is an important component of the cost-effective, high quality legal aid system this Government is working towards,” Ms Collins said. ...

Search and Surveillance Bill passes second reading

Beehive — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Judith Collins | Justice

A bill to boost the tools available to law enforcement agencies to fight crime has passed its second reading. Justice Minister Judith Collins said the Search and Surveillance Bill, when passed, will ensure the rights of people being searched or monitored are respected. “The Bill brings search and surveillance powers up to date with 21st century technology while still safeguarding human rights,” Ms Collins said. ...

New appointment to Law Commission

Beehive — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 03:11:00 +0000

Judith Collins | Justice

Minister Responsible for the Law Commission Judith Collins announced today that Hon Dr Wayne Mapp has been appointed as a new member of the Law Commission. “Wayne Mapp is a barrister and solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand. He has many years experience across a wide range of legal issues, in particular, he has a strong interest in commercial and international law. ...

Legal aid bill deferred

Beehive — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 04:18:00 +0000

Judith Collins | Justice

Justice Minister Judith Collins has asked the Justice and Electoral Committee to defer consideration of the Legal Assistance (Sustainability) Amendment Bill, until completion of the Family Court Review. “Many of the changes in the Bill relate to family matters and it would make more sense to align and take into account decisions arising from the Family Court Review,” Ms Collins said. ...

Family Court users asked to have their say

Admin — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:27:00 +0000

Judith Collins | Justice

Justice Minister Judith Collins today urged people who have used the Family Court to submit their views on how to improve its services before the Family Court Review closes at the end of the month. The review aims to ensure the court effectively meets the needs of users and that services are cost-effective and affordable. “The Family Court can play an important role in New Zealanders’ lives during difficult times, so it’s critical the system is working well for the families and vulnerable people who use it,” Ms Collins said. ...