Weak Policing Amendment Bill recommendations by Justice Select Committee

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | 8 JULY 2026 | PILLAR NZ

PILLAR NZ is disappointed by the Justice Select Committee’s final report and recommendations on the Policing Amendment Bill.

In April this year PILLAR submitted in opposition to the Policing Amendment Bill, citing grave concerns for Kiwis’ privacy rights.

A small number of heartening and privacy-preserving amendments have been added to the legislation.

These include warrant requirements based on the Search and Surveillance Act 2012 for some visual recordings, affirming the role of New Zealand’s Information Privacy Principles One to Four, and a compulsory review of the legislation’s impact on the third anniversary of its passing.

PILLAR is proud to have campaigned for these developments. However, that is where the progress ends.

The Select Committee’s recommendations following public hearings fail to adequately address the privacy risks this legislation presents, including the wide-ranging concerns raised by civil liberties organisation PILLAR.

At the core of PILLAR’s submission was a simple principle: new Police powers must come with sufficient guardrails to protect Kiwis’ privacy rights, particularly when those powers involve large-scale information gathering and intelligence capabilities.

PILLAR Head of Operations Arian Tashakkori said, “vague language and undefined terms create space for overreach, misuse, and the long-term erosion of public trust.”

“Key terms such as ‘intelligence purpose’ remain undefined in this legislation. Police need to provide strong assurance that their internal systems and IT infrastructure are adequately equipped to manage the significant increase in data these powers will generate. Parliament should ensure these powers can be exercised responsibly before granting them.”

Tashakkori said effective policing depends on public confidence, and that confidence is strengthened when powers are accompanied by robust accountability and safegaurds.

“Effective policing relies on public trust. If we allow that trust to be diminished through poorly drafted legislation, it will be difficult to rebuild. Recent years of police misconduct should have been enough to remind lawmakers why strong safeguards matter.”

“New Zealanders deserve effective policing, and PILLAR fully supports that objective. But effective policing and strong civil liberties are not competing values. There is still time for Parliament to strengthen this bill and ensure it protects both public safety and the fundamental privacy rights of every Kiwi.”

ENDS

Read PILLAR’s full submission here.