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Justice Minister Simon Power has welcomed the unanimous passing of a bill to honour a pre-election promise to hold a referendum on the voting system.

“I’m particularly pleased with how parliamentary parties have worked constructively together on this important constitutional issue,” Mr Power said.

“I also want to thank the public for helping to shape the referendum during the select committee process.”

Parliament today voted overwhelmingly to pass new electoral finance laws to govern next year’s General Election.

The Electoral (Finance Reform and Advance Voting) Amendment Act passed its third reading 116 votes to 5.

Justice Minister Simon Power said the new Act fulfils an election promise to repeal Labour’s 2007 Electoral Finance Act and replace it through a process which involves all parliamentary parties and the public.

“One of the most important aspects of the new regime is the process we used to construct it,” Mr Power said.

Justice Minister Simon Power leaves today for a meeting of the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General in Canberra.

The Standing Committee of Attorneys-General (SCAG) is comprised of the Attorneys-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, its states and territories, and New Zealand's Minister of Justice. Norfolk Island has observer status at SCAG meetings.

SCAG provides a forum for Ministers to discuss matters of mutual interest, progress projects to harmonise laws across jurisdictions, and simplify legal transactions across state and trans-Tasman boundaries.

Good afternoon.

I’d like to acknowledge the members of the judiciary and the legal profession for being here today for the official opening of the Papakura - Pukekohe Public Defence Service.

The opening of this branch is significant because it marks the completion of the PDS rollout to the Auckland region.

It’s a journey which began back in 2004 when the idea of using an in-house, high-quality legal aid service, through the use of salaried staff rather than contracted lawyers, was trialled in the Auckland and Manukau courts.

Justice Minister Simon Power today officially opened the Papakura-Pukekohe Public Defence Service. 

The PDS provides an in-house legal aid service, through the use of salaried staff rather than contracted lawyers.

“The opening of this PDS branch is significant because it marks the completion of the PDS rollout to the Auckland region,” Mr Power said.

Ladies and gentlemen, this event is the annual opportunity for the legal profession to celebrate the valuable work the foundation does as New Zealand's only funder of pure legal research, independe

Justice Minister Simon Power welcomes public submissions on a bill which contains the biggest changes to criminal procedure in decades.

The 526-page Criminal Procedure (Reform and Modernisation) Bill, which contains the changes, was sent to select committee today after it passed its first reading in Parliament.

Mr Power said the bill is designed to simplify and speed up the criminal justice system, while ensuring that a defendant's right to a fair trial is maintained.

A bill which completes the amalgamation of New Zealand's electoral agencies passed its first reading in Parliament last night with unanimous support.

The Electoral (Administration) Amendment Bill (No. 2) transfers the functions of the Chief Registrar of Electors to the new Electoral Commission.

It is the second and final stage of the Government's consolidation of electoral agencies. It was introduced after the new Electoral Commission took over the functions of the Chief Electoral Officer and the old Electoral Commission on October 1.

Justice Minister Simon Power has welcomed the Electoral Legislation Select Committee's report to Parliament on the Electoral Referendum Bill.

Broad political consensus has emerged to progress new electoral finance laws, Justice Minister Simon Power said today.

A bill to transfer the functions of the Chief Registrar of Electors to the new Electoral Commission was introduced to Parliament today by Justice Minister Simon Power.

Justice Minister Simon Power today introduced a bill which contains radical change to simplify and speed up the criminal justice system.

Justice Minister Simon Power is encouraging the public to have a say on the Government's Alcohol Reform Bill after it passed its first reading in Parliament today by 114 votes to 3.

Mister Speaker, I move that the Alcohol Reform Bill be read a first time. 

Good morning and thank you for inviting me to speak today. 

The Government's bill which targets alcohol-related harm and, in particular, youth drinking was introduced to Parliament today by Justice Minister Simon Power.

Thank you for inviting me to open your conference.

The companies you represent form an integral part of New Zealand's economy.

Alcohol Healthwatch Alcohol Law Reform Forum.

Cabinet has agreed to amend the ‘claim of right' defence so only those who believed they had a right in the property concerned could use the defence, Justice Minister Simon Power announced today.

Parliament today passed an amendment to the Summary Proceedings Act to address a technical error which has resulted in the misclassification of approximately 46,000 minor property offences since Ju

The Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully and the Minister of Justice Simon Power are welcoming the election of Justice Lowell Goddard to the United Nations Subcommittee on the Prevention of T

Cabinet has signed off proposals to remove the addresses of potential jurors from jury lists, Justice Minister Simon Power announced today.

Justice Minister Simon Power today visited Auckland District Court to see its audio visual link trial with Auckland Central Remand Prison in action.

Justice Minister Simon Power has asked the Law Commission to review the adequacy of regulations around how the Internet interacts with the justice system.