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A new disclosure scheme will make it easier for Police to disclose a person’s violent criminal past to a concerned partner or friend.

Justice Minister Amy Adams and Police Minister Judith Collins welcomed the new Family Violence Information Disclosure Scheme as the latest in a series of improvements and new services available to family violence victims.

Justice Minister Amy Adams says the scheme will help reduce the incidents of family violence in the home and potentially save lives.

Broadcasting Minister Amy Adams has announced a range of board appointments to some of New Zealand’s iconic broadcasting institutions.

“Across the board, these appointments will see a mix of new experience and valuable continuity retained at a time when we are looking at the impact of convergence on the sector,” Ms Adams says.

Three new Law Commissioners appointed

Justice Minister Amy Adams today announced the appointment of Douglas White QC, Donna Buckingham and Helen McQueen as new members of the Law Commission, each for a term of five years.

“Between them, these three new appointees have a tremendous depth of experience and know-how, and bring a fresh perspective to one of the justice sector’s most important policy institutions,” Ms Adams says.

Justice Minister Amy Adams has welcomed two Law Commission reports on how the justice system responds to victims of sexual violence and on the use of classified and security-sensitive information in civil court proceedings.

Ms Adams says the Government will consider the recommendations of both reports and respond in due course.

Good evening,

You are here because we share a common belief – that cyber security is a critical issue for New Zealand.

I want to start out by saying that the Government is as committed to a secure, resilient and prosperous online New Zealand as you are.

And I’m here tonight to announce a step-change in the way we combat cyber threats.

Agencies are taking steps to ensure an effective response to the growing problem of cybercrime with the establishment of a new interagency cybercrime plan.

“In a changing world where online security is an issue, we need to be on the front foot against cybercrime” says Justice and Communications Minister Amy Adams.

The cybercrime plan is part of the Government’s refreshed Cyber Security Strategy, launched in Auckland today by Ms Adams.

Ensuring New Zealanders are safe, resilient and prosperous online is at the heart of the Government’s refreshed national Cyber Security Strategy launched today.

The strategy was launched by Communications Minister Amy Adams with an Action Plan and a National Plan to Address Cybercrime

“The Government is building infrastructure and investing $2 billion into our Ultra-Fast Broadband and Rural Broadband Initiative programmes because we want New Zealanders to engage in the digital economy,” says Ms Adams.

New Zealand businesses with good cyber security practices could receive a “cyber security tick”, as part of a suite of initiatives to help protect small businesses against cyber attacks.

The cyber credentials scheme is just one initiative proposed in the Government’s new Cyber Security Strategy and Action Plan.

The Ultra-Fast Broadband initiative has been rolled out to at least 200,000 businesses across New Zealand – ahead of schedule and within budget.

“In 2009, the Government promised to make businesses a top priority for delivery of UFB,” says Communications Minister Amy Adams.

“We’ve met that goal two months earlier than we hoped, which means more New Zealand entrepreneurs and operators can connect to speeds of at least 100 Mbps.”

Courts Minister Amy Adams today announced that Cabinet has agreed to the strengthening and restoration of Dunedin’s historic courthouse.

“The Dunedin courthouse is one of New Zealand’s most notable historic buildings and Cabinet’s decision reflects its significance, both as a part of the city’s rich cultural heritage and its importance to the region’s legal fraternity,” Ms Adams says.

Supermarkets will be able to sell low and non-alcohol beer alongside regular beer under a new Bill introduced to Parliament by Justice Minister Amy Adams.

The Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Display of Low-alcohol Beverages and Other Remedial Matters) Amendment Bill 2015 makes two minor technical changes to New Zealand’s alcohol legislation.

Under the 2013 alcohol reforms, alcohol displays and promotions can only be in a single area in supermarkets and grocery stores, to help limit how much shoppers are exposed to them.

Justice and Courts Minister Amy Adams has welcomed the launch of New Zealand’s fourteenth Rangatahi Court in Taupō today.

Te Kooti Rangatahi ki Tūwharetoa was launched at Rauhoto Marae, Taupō.

Ms Adams says the Rangatahi Courts are focused on addressing offending by young Māori by involving communities in the youth justice process and encouraging strong cultural links.

“I welcome the ongoing expansion of the Rangatahi Courts, which attempt to create a different environment for young offenders,” Ms Adams says.

Good evening ladies and gentlemen,

It’s my pleasure to address this year’s New Zealand Law Foundation awards dinner.

At the risk of offending those I don’t name, I would like to acknowledge some of the dignitaries here this evening:

Communications Minister Amy Adams was in Masterton today to announce the completion of the town’s Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB) build.

More than 9500 homes and business in Masterton are now able to connect to ultra-fast internet using our world class fibre-to-the-premise network. All 21 schools in the Masterton area are now able to connect to fibre through the UFB and rural broadband programmes.

“Access to faster, more reliable broadband will open up an array of opportunities for the Masterton community,” says Ms Adams.

Justice and Courts Minister Amy Adams has acknowledged New Zealand’s courts for their hard work in 2015.

“There’s a lot of work underway to modernise our court system and this year we’ve made some good progress. In particular there’s been a huge improvement in the way courts services are managed and improving these services for the public,” Ms Adams says.

New Zealand has reinforced its commitment to combating corruption by ratifying the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, says Justice Minister Amy Adams.

The Convention is a legally binding global agreement to address corruption in the private and public spheres.

“While New Zealand already has a strong reputation for having low levels of corruption, we cannot be complacent. We have broadly complied with the Convention for a number of years, but we needed to make a limited number of law changes before we could ratify it,” says Ms Adams.

Justice Minister Amy Adams and Police Minister Michael Woodhouse welcome a pilot by frontline Police staff in Palmerston North to record victim video statements using their iPhone 6+ at the scene of certain family violence incidents.

Justice Minister Amy Adams has asked the Law Commission to begin three new projects in 2016.

These are to review the Property (Relationships) Act 1976, the Search and Surveillance Act 2012 and the Declaratory Judgments Act 1908.

Greymouth has become the twelfth New Zealand town to be fully-fibred under the Government’s Ultra-Fast Broadband programme, Communications Minister Amy Adams announced today.

“Around 4000 homes, businesses, schools and health facilities in Greymouth are now able to connect to ultra-fast internet using our world class fibre-to-the-premise network,” says Ms Adams. 

White Ribbon Day highlights the need for a continued focus on helping to reduce family and sexual violence, Justice Minister Amy Adams says.

The theme for this year’s White Ribbon campaign focuses on respectful relationships between men and women, ‘consent’ as a necessary requirement of all sexual relationships, and challenging attitudes and behaviour around violence against women.

More than 133,000 homes and businesses have now connected to the Government’s Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB) programme as the build gathers pace, Communications Minister Amy Adams announced today.

The September 2015 quarterly report for the first phase of UFB shows almost 56 per cent of the build is complete and more than 815,000 homes, schools and workplaces can now connect to the network.

Connectivity is growing rapidly in the regions with more New Zealanders than ever before now able to access faster rural broadband, Communications Minister Amy Adams says.

The latest quarterly report for phase one of the Rural Broadband Initiative (RBI) build as at 30 September 2015 shows 271,000 rural addresses can connect to the network.

“With 35.6 per cent uptake across the network, RBI is making sure that New Zealanders living in our rural and remote areas can enjoy the benefits of faster, better internet,” Ms Adams says.

New powers to monitor and supervise returning offenders have received wide-spread support in Parliament following the passing of a new Bill, says Justice Minister Amy Adams.

The Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Bill passed its Third Reading unopposed in Parliament today.

“This is balanced and proportionate legislation that will mean returning offenders who arrive in New Zealand shortly after being released from prison will be subject to the same sort of oversight as offenders who served a similar sentence here,” says Ms Adams.

A new Bill to pass under urgency will give authorities the power to assess and supervise offenders returning to our shores, Justice Minister Amy Adams has announced.

The Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Bill introduced by the Government is a key measure in a suite of initiatives to strengthen oversight of deported offenders.