Say NO To Police Overreach

This petition raises serious concerns about the Policing Amendment Bill 2026 and its impact on the rights and freedoms of New Zealanders.

While we support giving Police the tools they need to do their job effectively, the current version of this bill goes too far. It grants broad and loosely defined powers to collect photos, videos, and other personal information, without strong enough safeguards to protect the public.

What’s the issue?

• The bill allows Police to record people “by any means” in public, and even on private property where they are lawfully present, without clear limits.

• Key terms like “activity” and “intelligence purpose” are undefined or overly vague, meaning these powers could be applied very widely.

• There is no strong requirement that recording must be necessary, proportionate, or linked to a specific threat or investigation.

• Past findings show Police have already unlawfully collected and retained thousands of images, including of innocent people.

• The bill risks conflicting with the Privacy Act 2020 and undermining the right to be free from unreasonable search and seizure under the NZ Bill of Rights.

In short, the bill creates the conditions for overreach, misuse of power, and erosion of public trust.

Why does this matter?

New Zealand’s democracy depends on a careful balance between effective policing and individual freedom. If Police powers are too broad and unclear:

• Innocent people may be recorded, monitored, and stored in databases without cause

• There is a greater risk of misconduct and misuse of data

• Public trust in Police can be undermined long-term