Justice
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Justice Minister Amy Adams has wished Netsafe well as it begins its role as the Approved Agency under the Harmful Digital Communications Act.

“From today, Netsafe has responsibility for receiving, assessing and investigating complaints about harm caused to individuals by digital communications,” says Ms Adams.

“This is a free, seven-day-a-week service which is available to all people in New Zealand who experience online harassment or cyber-bullying.

Amy Adams Justice
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Justice Minister Amy Adams has congratulated Dr Kim McGregor on her first year as the inaugural Chief Victims Advisor to Government.

“Dr McGregor has quickly become a valuable and trusted source of independent advice to me as Justice Minister, and to senior officials across the justice sector,” says Ms Adams.

“Dr McGregor has contributed to a number of cross-agency initiatives, and is a visible presence across sector work as a member of senior government and governance boards working to improve outcomes for victims.

Amy Adams Justice
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Justice Minister Amy Adams today released draft legislation that will update our trust law and aid in their administration.

“Trusts play an important role in New Zealand. Between 300,000 and 500,000 trusts are operating today. Every day, ordinary New Zealanders use them to manage their finances, with an estimated 15 per cent of private houses held in a trust. They also form part of the economic backbone of the commercial and social sectors,” says Ms Adams.

Amy Adams Justice
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Justice Minister Amy Adams today announced the garden at the Auckland High Court would be developed as a memorial garden in memory of former High Court Judge, Sir Robert Chambers.

“This is a fitting tribute to someone who served the law with distinction and was highly regarded among New Zealand’s legal fraternity,” says Ms Adams.

Amy Adams Justice Courts
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Good morning.

Can I start by acknowledging Martin Cocker, chief executive of NetSafe.

I would like to welcome you all to New Zealand’s first conference focused on harmful digital communications.

It’s an important topic and one that matters now more than ever before. Bullying is not a new problem but its reach and its impact have increased considerably in the digital age. I’m sure many of us either have, or know of someone who has, been a victim of online bullying.

Amy Adams Justice
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The Broadcasting (Election Programmes and Election Advertising) Amendment Bill, recently introduced to the House by Justice and Broadcasting Minister Amy Adams, has today received its first reading.

The Bill will remove the requirement for opening and closing addresses to be broadcast at election time and instead allow parties to advertise more flexibly and effectively, using their funding allocations under the Broadcasting Act.

Under the bill, parties will also be able to use this funding to advertise online, rather than only on television and radio.

Amy Adams Justice
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Justice Minister Amy Adams and Social Development Minister Anne Tolley say that a comprehensive information sharing framework is to be created to keep vulnerable children and young people safe from harm, as part of the radical overhaul of care and protection.

Anne Tolley Amy Adams Social Development Justice
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Justice and Courts Minister Amy Adams has welcomed a new pilot programme which sees Community Magistrates sitting in Christchurch from today  – the first time the judicial officers have sat in the South Island.

The Christchurch pilot programme will run for two months and is part of the work of the Christchurch Justice and Emergency Services Precinct project to test new ways of working to benefit the justice system. 

Amy Adams Justice Courts
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Crime is significantly down over the last five years, but the latest figures highlight that more work needs to be done to drive it down further, Justice Minister Amy Adams says.

The Justice Sector’s BPS results for the quarter ending June 2016 released today show increases in all four measures, although all remain down on 2011 levels. 

Amy Adams Justice
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Ministers today welcomed the start of the second Integrated Safety Response (ISR) pilot site in Waikato and announced another $1.4 million in new funding to support the pilot programme.

The ISR pilot involves core agencies and specialist family violence NGOs working together as a team to ensure that families experiencing violence get the help and support they need to stay safe.

An additional $1.4 million from the Justice Sector Fund will support the new site in Waikato, as well as the Christchurch pilot site which has been up and running since 4 July.

Judith Collins Anne Tolley Amy Adams Social Development Police Justice
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Justice Minister Amy Adams will today travel to Melbourne to attend the Law, Crime and Community Safety Council (LCCSC).

“The LCCSC is a joint-Ministerial council which helps maintain a consistent Trans-Tasman focus on fighting crime and promoting best practice in law, criminal justice and community safety,” says Ms Adams.

The meeting will focus on a range of topics including:

Amy Adams Justice
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Justice Minister Amy Adams has today announced two key appointments to the Electoral Commission.

Alicia Wright is to be appointed as the Chief Electoral Officer of the Commission and Kristy McDonald QC as the Deputy Chair. Both will be appointed for a term of five years.

Ms Adams says the Commission requires strong leadership in order to maintain New Zealand’s politically neutral and independent democratic processes.

Amy Adams Justice
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A new pilot that aims to speed up sexual violence court cases should help reduce trauma for victims during the court process, says Justice Minister Amy Adams.

Ms Adams today welcomed the announcement by Chief District Court Judge Jan-Marie Doogue that two dedicated sexual violence courts will be trialled in Whangarei and Auckland.

Amy Adams Justice
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Justice and Broadcasting Minister Amy Adams says a planned refresh of the outdated format of election broadcasts will modernise them in time for the 2017 General Election.

Ms Adams announced today that the Broadcasting (Election Programmes and Election Advertising) Amendment Bill will be introduced to Parliament next week.

The Bill will remove the requirement for political parties’ opening and closing election broadcasts to be aired on television and radio. It will also remove the requirement for TVNZ and Radio NZ to provide free time for these.

Amy Adams Justice Broadcasting
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A Bill to improve how low strength beer and wine can be sold passed its second reading in Parliament last night.

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

“Under the wording in the current law, supermarkets and grocery stores that sell low-alcohol and non-alcoholic beer and wine cannot place them in the same area as regular strength alcohol,” says Justice Minister Amy Adams.

Amy Adams Justice
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The recent upgrade to audio visual technology in the Hastings Court is a welcome addition to the network of courts and prisons which allows remote appearances in courts, Justice and Courts Minister Amy Adams says.

“Equipping the Hastings Court with an audio-visual link (AVL) will increase the number of defendants who make virtual appearances in our courts without leaving prison,” says Ms Adams.

Amy Adams Justice Courts
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Associate Justice Minister Simon Bridges has welcomed three major banks agreeing to a funding proposal to assist community law centres.

Community law centres are funded partly by the Government and partly from the pooled interest on money held in lawyers’ trust accounts.

ASB, Westpac and ANZ have volunteered to take a smaller share of the interest than they are entitled to by law, meaning community law centres will receive more. BNZ and TSB Bank are already doing so.

Simon Bridges Justice
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Parliament has passed legislation tonight that updates and modernises the century-old law underpinning New Zealand courts.

Twenty-three Bills divided from the Bill formerly known as the Judicature Modernisation Bill were passed into law with widespread support.

“At more than 1000 pages, the legislation was one of the biggest law-making tasks ever undertaken by Parliament,” says Justice and Courts Minister Amy Adams.

Amy Adams Justice Courts
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The Electoral Amendment Bill has today passed its first reading with unanimous support, says Justice Minister Amy Adams.

The Bill implements recommendations made by the Justice and Electoral Select Committee Inquiry into the 2014 General Election that require a law change, and can be implemented in time for the 2017 General Election.

“The proposed changes in the Bill focus on improving services to voters, candidates and parties by making the law and voting process more user-friendly and adapting to changing voter behaviours,” says Ms Adams.

Amy Adams Justice
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South Island company Amalgamated Builders has won the contract to upgrade and refurbish Dunedin’s historic Stuart Street courthouse, Justice and Courts Minister Amy Adams announced today.

Work will start in early October and is expected to finish in December 2017.

Amy Adams Justice Courts
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More effective systems in polling places and earlier counting of advanced votes are on their way through proposed changes to our electoral laws, Justice Minister Amy Adams says.

The Electoral Amendment Bill has been introduced to Parliament and proposes 14 changes to the Electoral Act to adapt to shifts in technology and voter behaviour. These reflect recommendations made by the Justice and Electoral Select Committee’s Inquiry into the 2014 General Election.

Amy Adams Justice
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The Evidence Amendment Bill will reduce unnecessary trauma and better protect victims who become involved in the court process through no fault of their own, Justice and Courts Minister Amy Adams says.

“Giving evidence can be especially tough for young and vulnerable witnesses. The changes we’re making through this Bill will help to make the court process less traumatic for those it may affect the most,” says Ms Adams.

Amy Adams Justice Courts
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A Bill modernising and consolidating New Zealand’s century-old courts legislation took a leap forward in Parliament today.

The Judicature Modernisation Bill passed its Committee of the Whole House stage in Parliament, with widespread support.

“This Bill updates the 108-year-old Judicature Act 1908 and associated legislation that underpins New Zealand courts,” says Justice and Courts Minister Amy Adams.

Amy Adams Justice Courts
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A Bill creating more effective and streamlined processes to verify the identity of offenders has passed its first reading in Parliament with overwhelming support, Justice Minister Amy Adams says.

The Enhancing Identity Verification and Border Processes Legislation Bill enables agencies to work together to identify offenders and ensure they meet the conditions imposed on them.

Amy Adams Justice