22nd Oct 2024 – Webinar: Automated number plate recognition and the NZ Police

Automated number plate recognition (ANPR) has been around for a while now used by police, traffic management, and parking systems. But how is it actually used by the police? What are the issues with building up a large database of vehicle movements? Should the police be able to access ANPR data captured by others? Keep reading “22nd Oct 2024 – Webinar: Automated number plate recognition and the NZ Police”

Submission: Here ora? Preventive measures for community safety, rehabilitation and reintegration (NZLC IP54, 2024)

The Council opposes preventative detention and post-sentence orders in principle. We reluctantly acknowledge that we should not abolish preventative measures at this time. The Council generally supports the Law Commission's Preferred Approach, but we do note some objections. Keep reading “Submission: Here ora? Preventive measures for community safety, rehabilitation and reintegration (NZLC IP54, 2024)”

Submission: Sentencing (Reinstating Three Strikes) Amendment Bill

The Council opposes the Sentencing (Reinstating Three Strikes) Amendment Bill as it infringes on our civil liberties while not providing sufficient justification for doing so. It seems to us that the bill is more about political signalling than improving our justice system. Keep reading “Submission: Sentencing (Reinstating Three Strikes) Amendment Bill”

Submission: Restoring Citizenship Removed By Citizenship (Western Samoa) Act 1982 Bill

The Council has long opposed the Citizenship (Western Samoa) Act 1982, which we have described as unjust and racist. Therefore the Council supports the Restoring Citizenship Removed By Citizenship (Western Samoa) Act 1982 Bill. Keep reading “Submission: Restoring Citizenship Removed By Citizenship (Western Samoa) Act 1982 Bill”

CSOs call on the Minister for the Public Service and Finance to adequately fund Open Government Partnership work

Eight civil society organisations have written to Minister Willis who is both the Minister responsible for New Zealand's membership of the Open Government Partnership (OGP), and Minister of Finance asking her to ensure that adequate funding is provided so that ambitious new pieces of work are committed to in our next National Action Plan. Keep reading “CSOs call on the Minister for the Public Service and Finance to adequately fund Open Government Partnership work”

What’s going on with the appointment of a new Ombudsman?

The Council has written to the Speaker of the House of Representatives today, about the issues with the appointment of the next Ombudsman, and made an Official Information Act request to the Ministry of Justice. This blog post is to explain why, and the letter is reproduced at the end. Keep reading “What’s going on with the appointment of a new Ombudsman?”