Civil liberties newsfeed (NZ)

Bunnings to trial facial recognition tech in Hamilton stores Bunnings Warehouse is to introduce facial recognition technology, citing problems caused by repeat offenders threatening staff and customers.

Bunnings to trial facial recognition tech in Hamilton stores - https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/top/588911/bunnings-to-trial-facial-recognition-tech-in-hamilton-stores - Details and more news at: https://nzccl.org.nz/news

‘Unnecessary, degrading and deeply harmful’: New report calls for strip searches to be banned in prisons In most Australian jurisdictions, children as young as ten can be subjected to strip searching, with First Nations people significantly more likely to be targeted .

‘Unnecessary, degrading and deeply harmful’: New report calls for strip searches to be banned in prisons - https://www.teaonews.co.nz/2026/03/07/unnecessary-degrading-and-deeply-harmful-new-report-calls-for-strip-searches-to-be-banned-in-prisons/ - Details and more news at: https://nzccl.org.nz/news

In defence of free speech: Why the harder principle matters more than ever - Law News An opinion piece defending free speech, arguing the principle matters most when protecting unpopular views in law, democracy and public debate.

In defence of free speech: Why the harder principle matters more than ever - https://lawnews.nz/human-rights/in-defence-of-free-speech-why-the-harder-principle-matters-more-than-ever/ - Details and more news at: https://nzccl.org.nz/news

Amnesty International calls for corporations to take responsibility for social media harm A select committee has released its report after an inquiry into social media harm for young people.

Amnesty International calls for corporations to take responsibility for social media harm - https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/588780/amnesty-international-calls-for-corporations-to-take-responsibility-for-social-media-harm - Details and more news at: https://nzccl.org.nz/news

Act 'embarrassed' as parliamentary committee backs social media ban for under-16s Parmjeet Parmar, who initiated the inquiry, says outcome was predetermined.

- https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/parliament-committee-backs-social-media-ban-for-under-16s-but-mp-who-initiated-inquiry-embarrassed-by-outcome/RHGDUNWJ7ZHAVOPTHR3SLKMHLQ/ - Details and more news at: https://nzccl.org.nz/news

Officials warns that retail crime advisory group lacks relevant expertise after resignations Officials advised justice minister in January that remaining two members "do not hold subject matter expertise".

Officials warn that retail crime advisory group lacks relevant expertise after resignations - https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/top/588773/officials-warn-that-retail-crime-advisory-group-lacks-relevant-expertise-after-resignations - Details and more news at: https://nzccl.org.nz/news

Christchurch could have protest-free zones at 'sensitive sites' A councillor says "there's a time and place for protests", but a veteran protester thinks approved protest zones are contrary to NZ's sense of democracy.

Christchurch could have protest-free zones at 'sensitive sites' - https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/588534/christchurch-could-have-protest-free-zones-at-sensitive-sites - Details and more news at: https://nzccl.org.nz/news

Phones in every cell? The growing pressure to overhaul prison phone rules One Serco-run prison already has a monitored phone installed in every cell.

Prison phone access: Calls for phones in every cell as rules reviewed - https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/prison-phone-access-calls-for-phones-in-every-cell-as-rules-reviewed/27QW42E3SVF4LFN5H7KDFD34LM/ - Details and more news at: https://nzccl.org.nz/news

Serious concerns at-risk youth will be caught up in government's new move-on orders Police are being given the power to move on anyone over the age of 14 who is sleeping rough, begging, or displaying disorderly behaviour anywhere in public.

Serious concerns at-risk youth will be caught up in government's new move-on orders - https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/588446/serious-concerns-at-risk-youth-will-be-caught-up-in-government-s-new-move-on-orders - Details and more news at: https://nzccl.org.nz/news

AI is already creeping into election campaigns. NZ’s rules aren’t ready Months out from the next general election, political “AI slop” is spilling over social media feeds. Lessons from overseas could help electoral laws catch up.

AI is already creeping into election campaigns. NZ’s rules aren’t ready - https://theconversation.com/ai-is-already-creeping-into-election-campaigns-nzs-rules-arent-ready-275688 - Details and more news at: https://nzccl.org.nz/news

Unease about facial recognition tech United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Melissa Chan-Green about handheld facial recognition technology being rolled out by Police in London, as well as new figures out of the UK showing th...

Unease about facial recognition tech - https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/2019024887/unease-about-facial-recognition-tech - Details and more news at: https://nzccl.org.nz/news

Editorial: Move-on orders are a temporary fix, not a long-term answer OPINION: The Government's move has the potential to cause more problems than it solves.

Move-on orders are a temporary fix, not a long-term answer – Editorial - https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/move-on-orders-are-a-temporary-fix-not-a-long-term-answer-editorial/premium/LIWXIM6RRBG3VKYCNPFF57G2UI/ - Details and more news at: https://nzccl.org.nz/news

Is it time to abandon postal voting for local elections? Several Auckland councillors think so, with voter turnout continuing to decline.

Is it time to abandon postal voting for local elections? - https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/587967/is-it-time-to-abandon-postal-voting-for-local-elections - Details and more news at: https://nzccl.org.nz/news

Government deciding whether US should get access to New Zealanders' biometric data Officials are in talks with the US about a new travel deal.

Government deciding whether US should get access to New Zealanders' biometric data - https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/587964/government-deciding-whether-us-should-get-access-to-new-zealanders-biometric-data - Details and more news at: https://nzccl.org.nz/news

How the cash-for-driver licence bribery scandal unravelled - and why the public wasn’t told - https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360942539/how-cash-driver-licence-bribery-scandal-unravelled-and-why-public-wasnt-told - Details and more news at: https://nzccl.org.nz/news

Citizens arrests, armed guards, and the power of Sunny Kaushal For the past decade, Sunny Kaushal has been a man on a mission to crack down on retail crime.

Citizens arrests, armed guards, and the power of Sunny Kaushal - https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/thedetail/587847/citizens-arrests-armed-guards-and-the-power-of-sunny-kaushal - Details and more news at: https://nzccl.org.nz/news

NZ is slowly slipping on the global corruption index. Is it time for an anti-corruption agency? New Zealand remains among the ‘cleanest’ countries in the world for perceived corruption. But a deeper trend suggests government action is needed.

NZ is slowly slipping on the global corruption index. Is it time for an anti-corruption agency? - https://theconversation.com/nz-is-slowly-slipping-on-the-global-corruption-index-is-it-time-for-an-anti-corruption-agency-275781 - Details and more news at: https://nzccl.org.nz/news

Pay equity law changes 'flagrant and significant abuse of power', former MPs say But the workplace relations minister is backing the new system, saying it's made the law simpler and more robust.

Pay equity law changes 'flagrant and significant abuse of power', former MPs say - https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/587709/pay-equity-law-changes-flagrant-and-significant-abuse-of-power-former-mps-say - Details and more news at: https://nzccl.org.nz/news

The risk behind simplifying local government - https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/360953609/risk-behind-simplifying-local-government - Details and more news at: https://nzccl.org.nz/news

Exclusive: US plans online portal to bypass content bans in Europe and elsewhere The portal could potentially put Washington in the unfamiliar position of appearing to encourage citizens to flout local laws.

Exclusive: US plans online portal to bypass content bans in Europe and elsewhere - https://www.reuters.com/world/us-plans-online-portal-bypass-content-bans-europe-elsewhere-2026-02-18/ - Details and more news at: https://nzccl.org.nz/news

New legislation aimed at combatting retail crime puts workers and would-be heroes at risk - Law News Legal experts warn that expanded citizen’s arrest powers in the Crimes Amendment Bill could endanger retail workers, blur the line between life and property, and create overlapping assault offences.

New legislation aimed at combatting retail crime puts workers and would-be heroes at risk - https://lawnews.nz/criminal/new-legislation-aimed-at-combatting-retail-crime-puts-workers-and-would-be-heroes-at-risk/ - Details and more news at: https://nzccl.org.nz/news

NZ doesn't take data breaches nearly as seriously as it should Comment from Victoria University: Until our laws have some teeth, New Zealanders will continue to pay the price for cyber security mismanagement.

NZ doesn’t take data breaches nearly as seriously as it should - https://newsroom.co.nz/2026/02/20/nz-doesnt-take-data-breaches-nearly-as-seriously-as-it-should/ - Details and more news at: https://nzccl.org.nz/news

From the newzealand community on Reddit Explore this post and more from the newzealand community

Our outdated and borderline barbaric privacy laws - https://www.reddit.com/r/newzealand/comments/1r7keol/our_outdated_and_borderline_barbaric_privacy_laws/?captcha=1 - Details and more news at: https://nzccl.org.nz/news

Referendum on four-year election term ditched by Government The decision by Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is revealed by 1News.

Referendum on four-year election term ditched by Government - https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/02/18/referendum-on-four-year-election-term-ditched-by-government/ - Details and more news at: https://nzccl.org.nz/news

Non-consensual AI porn doesn’t violate privacy – but it’s still wrong Private use of AI porn may not be illegal, but it doesn’t make it morally right. Here’s why.

Non-consensual AI porn doesn’t violate privacy – but it’s still wrong - https://theconversation.com/non-consensual-ai-porn-doesnt-violate-privacy-but-its-still-wrong-275095 - Details and more news at: https://nzccl.org.nz/news

Multiplying cells: A tale of two prisons Corrections is rushing new high-security units at Hawke's Bay, prompting questions over risks and reduced amenities amid record inmate growth.

Multiplying cells: A tale of two prisons - https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/586976/multiplying-cells-a-tale-of-two-prisons - Details and more news at: https://nzccl.org.nz/news

Iwi votes on committees divide Tasman council Iwi representatives will be able to sit and vote in Tasman District Council’s committee meetings, but not all councillors were on board with the idea.

Iwi votes on committees divide Tasman council - https://www.teaonews.co.nz/2026/02/16/iwi-votes-on-committees-divide-tasman-council/ - Details and more news at: https://nzccl.org.nz/news

Tighter planning notification threshold ‘significantly’ cut down public participation - https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/360948034/tighter-planning-notification-threshold-significantly-cut-down-public-participation - Details and more news at: https://nzccl.org.nz/news

NZ First ‘rage-baiting’ with campaign for referendum on Māori seats, Te Pāti Māori says The Green Party is moving in the opposite direction, calling for the seats to be protected.

New Zealand First campaigning for referendum on Māori seats - https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360937443/new-zealand-first-campaigning-referendum-maori-seats - Details and more news at: https://nzccl.org.nz/news

Bunnings decision may open door to facial recognition surveillance free-for-all Businesses using facial recognition cameras need customer consent – but a new ruling could open a loophole in the law.

Bunnings decision may open door to facial recognition surveillance free-for-all - https://theconversation.com/bunnings-decision-may-open-door-to-facial-recognition-surveillance-free-for-all-275392 - Details and more news at: https://nzccl.org.nz/news