New Zealand introduces new counter terrorism bill

The New Zealand Government is introducing the Counter-Terrorism Legislation Bill, which it says will boost New Zealand’s ‘ability to respond to a wider range of terrorist activities’.

The proposed changes include clarifying what a ‘terrorist act’ is and new offences for people who plan or prepare for a terrorist act. It also seeks to create a new offence to more clearly criminalise terrorist weapons and combat training and extend the eligibility for a control order to include individuals who have completed a prison sentence for a terrorism-related offence if they continue to present a real risk of engaging in terrorism-related activities.

Justice Minister Kris Faafoi said: “This is the government’s first step to implementing recommendation 18 of the Royal Commission into the terrorist attack on Christchurch masjidain on 15 March 2019, which called for a review of all legislation related to New Zealand’s counter-terrorism effort to ensure it is fit-for-purpose and enables public sector agencies to operate effectively.

“The crimes perpetrated against members of our Muslim community on March 15 two years ago brought terrorism to this country in a way we had never seen before.

“I acknowledge the deep grief of the families and communities who lost loved ones, as well as those who were injured or severely traumatised. The attack also mirrored how the nature of terrorism has been changing internationally, involving lone actors rather than organised terrorist groups. We need to ensure our laws can respond to that.”