Justice 

Planning underway for postal referendum

22.08.2008

This follows the Clerk of the House of Representatives confirming today that a petition on the question --- "Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?" --- had been signed by sufficient registered electors to proceed to a referendum.

Justice Minister Annette King has confirmed that planning has begun to hold a postal referendum related to Section 59 of the Crimes Amendment Act.

The office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives confirmed today that a petition on the question --- "Should a smack as part of good par...  more +

Sexual Violence discussion document released

08.08.2008

Justice Minister Annette King has issued a discussion document, Improvements to Sexual Violence Legislation in New Zealand, aimed at seeking public views on law changes to improve the criminal justice response to sexual offending.

 Ms King says the Government wa...  more +

Govt wants greater community say in liquor licensing

06.08.2008

Communities will have a greater say over when, where and how liquor can be sold under the provisions of a Bill tabled in Parliament which will also improve the enforcement of liquor licence conditions, government Ministers Lianne Dalziel and Damien O'Connor announced today.

Associate Justice Minister Lianne Dalziel, who is leading the introduction of the Sale and Supply of Liquor and Liquor Enforcement Bill which will also tighten the law around supplying alcohol to young people, said it reflected public concerns and police advice over the availability of alcohol an...  more +

Speech to open the "Live" conference on domestic violence.

21.08.2008

"Everybody here shares a common goal and vision of a brighter future for our children and our families. This conference gives us the opportunity to discuss how to address family violence at a local level and to set in place a clear path for reducing and preventing family violence - in Hawke's Bay and New Zealand as a whole."

The sort of community initiative represented by this conference is one of the real ways New Zealand can tackle the evil of family violence within our society.

I feel privileged that you have asked me to join you today, and I want to say from the outset that I ha...  more +