Justice Minister Amy Adams and Corrections Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga have today released the draft Terms of Reference for the Government Inquiry into the handling of the Tony Robertson case.

The draft Terms of Reference focus on:

A suite of Government initiatives has built momentum for efforts to reduce New Zealand’s horrific family violence track-record, says Justice Minister Amy Adams.

A discussion document launched today takes a hard look at the way the law prevents and responds to family violence, and proposes a comprehensive rethink to strengthen New Zealand’s legislative response.

The discussion document was launched by Justice Minister Amy Adams in Auckland today.

Justice Minister Amy Adams and Social Development Minister Anne Tolley have today launched a new work programme to ensure government agencies respond better to family and sexual violence.

“Despite crime rates in New Zealand falling to a 35-year low, family violence remains unacceptably high,” Justice Minister Amy Adams says.

“We need to do more to prevent and address family violence in New Zealand.

The search is underway for an Approved Agency where victims of cyberbullying can turn to for help, Justice Minister Amy Adams announced today.

The Agency will be required to work with victims and the offending party to resolve complaints about cyberbullying in a quick and efficient way. It’s a core part of the Harmful Digital Communications Act, which passed through Parliament last month.

Efforts to improve the oversight, supervision and support for offenders deported to New Zealand, particularly from Australia, are making good headway, says Justice Minister Amy Adams.

“The Government is working hard on three pieces of work to make sure agencies are well positioned to support deported offenders, and minimise potential risks to public safety. We’re making good progress on all three work streams,” says Ms Adams.

New Zealand has a key role to play in global efforts to combat money laundering and counter the financing of terrorism, Justice Minister Amy Adams said at the opening of the Asia Pacific Group on Money Laundering in Auckland today.

About 360 delegates from around the world are taking part in the international gathering, including 41 member countries from the Asia-Pacific region and international organisations such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the United Nations.

The crime figures from the Better Public Services results show there were around 64,000 fewer crimes in the past year than in June 2011, though data for the most recent quarter serve as a reminder that there is always

The first stage of the Government’s sexual violence reforms are underway with the passing of the first reading of the Evidence Amendment Act today, Justice Minister Amy Adams says.

Ms Adams says the Bill will reduce unnecessary trauma and better protect victims who become involved in the court process through no fault of their own.

The Bill includes three core changes:

Up to 1000 victims of family violence will be better protected with the rollout of the National Home Safety Service, says Justice Minister Amy Adams.

The National Collective of Independent Women’s Refuges, which was awarded a three-year $3.6 million contract in March, will begin rolling out the service today.

The service will assist up to 400 victims of family violence a year, and up to 600 children, to remain in their homes with a significantly reduced risk of serious physical harm or violence.

A Bill to curb cyberbullying and better support victims passed its third and final reading in Parliament today with overwhelming cross-party support.

The Harmful Digital Communications Bill introduces a range of measures to address damaging electronic communications spread through methods such as emails, texts and social media posts.

Justice Minister Amy Adams says the law changes will prevent and reduce the potentially devastating harm caused by cyberbullying and other modern forms of harassment and intimidation.

Establishing a Chief Victims Advisor to the Government is an important step to ensuring victims are placed at the heart of decision-making, Justice Minister Amy Adams has announced.

The inaugural role has been created to provide independent advice to the Justice Minister about victims’ experiences in the justice system and is a central part of the Government’s response to better protecting victims of family violence.

The Dunedin Courthouse has become the eighteenth court to connect to the audio-visual link (AVL) network, Justice and Courts Minister Amy Adams has announced.

Dunedin becomes the final court to hook into the technology in a $27.8 million upgrade and expansion of AVL links throughout New Zealand. There are also 13 prisons online.

Ms Adams says the technology allows prisoners and defendants remanded in custody to appear in the court without leaving jail, increasing safety and security for the public and court users.

A leading former High Court judge has been appointed to assess Teina Pora’s compensation claim, Justice Minister Amy Adams has announced.

Some of New Zealand’s top experts on trusts are contributing their knowledge and experience to assist the Government’s reform of trust law, Justice Minister Amy Adams has announced.

Ms Adams yesterday chaired the first meeting of the Trusts Reference Group, which she established to help update and improve the law governing private trusts. 

A Bill that cracks down on organised crime and corruption has passed its second reading in Parliament today.

Justice Minister Amy Adams says the Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Legislation Bill implements a number of measures to strengthen New Zealand’s response to organised crime both domestically and abroad.

“This Government has a zero-tolerance approach to organised crime. We’re continually working to prevent and address the threat posed by illicit activities such as money laundering, fraud and drug-related crime,” Ms Adams says.

Budget 2015 provides an additional $218.6 million investment in the justice sector over the next four years, Justice Minister Amy Adams says.

The increase in operating funding enables the sector to continue working to further reduce the impact of crime on New Zealand families.

Reducing the causes and impact of crime is a key priority for the Government, Ms Adams says.

Justice Minister Amy Adams has opened a two-day conference which will look at how restorative justice can be used to better support victims of family violence.

The Family Violence, the Law and Restorative Justice Conference began at Parliament today.

Ms Adams says addressing family violence in New Zealand is a priority for the Government.

A bill to give the Human Rights Commission greater flexibility in dealing with emerging human rights issues passed its second reading in Parliament today.

Justice Minister Amy Adams says the Human Rights Amendment Bill changes the composition, governance arrangements, functions and powers of the Commission.

Justice Minister Amy Adams has submitted the Government’s latest report to the United Nations on civil and political rights in New Zealand.

Along with almost 170 other countries, New Zealand is required to periodically report to the United Nations Human Rights Committee on the country’s performance under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. This is the sixth report New Zealand has provided since ratifying the Covenant in 1978.

Changes to the provisions governing the use of pecuniary penalties will improve the effectiveness of the legal system, says Justice Minister Amy Adams.

Ms Adams today tabled in Parliament the Government Response to the Law Commission Report Pecuniary Penalties: Guidance for Legislative Design.

Pecuniary penalties are fines imposed on an individual or a company by the High Court in civil law processes and can involve large sums of money being paid to the Crown.