The Chairperson of the Justice Committee has called for public submissions on the Crimes Amendment Bill. The bill, which would amend the Crimes Act 1961, aims to strengthen consequences for certain crimes and meet commitments in the National/New Zealand First coalition agreement. The changes proposed by the bill include:

• amending the law regarding citizen’s arrest and defence of property
• increasing the maximum penalties for the offences of dealing in slaves and people under 18
• amending the offences of human trafficking and people smuggling
• providing a protection for Police involved in covert operations while investigating child exploitation
• creating new offences for “coward punches”, assaults on first responders and corrections officers, and theft that is done in an offensive, threatening, insulting, or disorderly manner
• amending the monetary thresholds and penalties for theft.

The committee has also been empowered to consider the amendments set out in Amendment Paper (AP) 436, which would amend the Summary Offences Act 1981. The proposed changes in the AP would create an infringement offence for removing property from retail premises without payment and update the procedural provisions for infringement offences.

Tell the Justice Committee what you think

Make a submission on the bill by 11.59pm on Monday 16 February 2026.

For more details about the bill:

• Read the full content of the bill and the Amendment Paper
• Get more details about the bill

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