We lead and are involved in a wide range of initiatives to reduce crime, keep people safe and modernise the justice system.

Past projects are archived here.

  • Reduced violent crime

    In 2024, the Government set nine targets to improve the lives of New Zealanders. The Ministry of Justice is the lead agency for Government Target 4 – Reduced Violent Crime. The target aims to reduce the annual number of victims by 20,000 people, so that by December 2029 no more than 165,000 New Zealanders fall victim to assault, robbery, or sexual assault.

  • Adoption Law Reform

    The Government is reforming our adoption laws. The aim of the reform is to create a new system that protects the rights, best interests and welfare of children, upholds our Tiriti o Waitangi obligations, and upholds our international human rights obligations. We want to put tamariki, our children, at the heart of our adoption laws.

  • Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Court

    The AODT Court aims to deliver better outcomes and experiences for court participants with alcohol and other drug substance use disorders, victims, whānau and the wider community.

  • Addressing family violence and sexual violence

    We're part of a cross-government work programme related to family violence and sexual violence that aims to ensure victims are safer, improve services, and change long-standing behaviours and attitudes.

  • Anti-money laundering & countering financing of terrorism

    We are leading work to enhance New Zealand's anti-money laundering and countering financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) framework.

  • Family Justice Reform

    The Government is working to ensure that children and families affected by disputes about care arrangements receive appropriate support, representation, and protection. The reforms respond to recommendations made by an independent panel in the 2019 report Te Korowai Ture ā-Whānau, which examined the impact of major changes that were made in 2014.

  • Behavioural Science Aotearoa - Changing behaviour in justice for good

    We work to understand people better so we can make our justice system work for them. We use evidence and research methods from social sciences to ensure policies and processes reflect the way people behave and make decisions.

  • Cross-government initiatives

    Find out about some of the plans and programmes involving multiple government agencies that we play a role in.

  • Wayfinding for Civil Justice

    Planning a better way of working together to improve access to civil justice in Aotearoa New Zealand.

  • Mana Ōrite agreement

    A Mana Ōrite relationship agreement was signed in April 2021 between the Ināia Tonu Nei kaitiaki and justice sector chief executives.

  • CERD Report public consultation

    The New Zealand Government is due to submit a Report to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (the CERD Committee). We invite your feedback on New Zealand’s draft Twenty-Third and Twenty-Fourth Report to the CERD Committee.

  • Three strikes law

    The Government intends to introduce legislation to reinstate the three strikes sentencing law, with modifications, by the end of June 2024.

  • National Action Plan Against Racism

    We are leading the creation of New Zealand’s first ever national action plan against racism. This is happening with the National Iwi Chairs Forum. Engagement with communities is the first step to developing the plan.

  • Te Ao Mārama

    Te Ao Mārama is a judicially led kaupapa that will improve the experience for all people who participate in the court system, including victims and whānau. By partnering with iwi and engaging with communities, Te Ao Mārama will be designed to best serve each community’s specific needs.

  • Whakaorangia te Mana Tangata

    Whakaorangia te Mana Tangata is a whānau centred initiative that is designed and provided by local iwi or iwi mandated service providers, to support Māori offenders, victims and whānau through the court process.

  • Te Au Reka

    In a major new initiative, the Ministry of Justice and the judiciary are setting out to modernise the way we support the functions of our courts and tribunals.

  • Political lobbying

    This page describes the Ministry of Justice work on Political lobbying.

  • Improving jury trials timeliness

    As part of its law and order commitments, the Government is working to increase timeliness and reduce delays in the courts, including for jury trials.

  • A Treaty Principles Bill

    The Government is introducing a Bill that will seek to define in law the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi Treaty of Waitangi.

  • Better Outcomes for Victims Work programme

    The Better Outcomes for Victims work programme is a three-year government initiative to improve victims’ experience of the justice system in key areas identified by victims and victims’ advocates. Announced in April 2023, the programme also supports the government’s longer-term work to build a more victim-focused criminal justice system overall.

  • Review of Courts (Remote Participation) Act 2010

    The Ministry of Justice is undertaking a first principles review of the Courts (Remote Participation) Act 2010 and is now seeking public feedback on options for change set out in a discussion document.

  • Countering foreign interference

    The Government is making changes to the Crimes Act 1961 to support efforts to counter foreign interference and espionage activities that undermine New Zealand's national interests.

  • Cybercrime

    The Government is changing the law to better respond to the international threat of cybercrime.

  • Gang legislation

    The Government enacted the Gangs Act 2024 to respond to the operation of gangs in New Zealand.

  • Long-Term Insights Briefing

    Long-term Insights Briefings (LTIBs) are a government initiative requiring agencies to develop and share insights on the trends, risks and opportunities that affect, or may affect, Aotearoa New Zealand.

  • Regulatory Systems (Justice) Amendment Bills

    The Regulatory Systems (Justice) Amendment package are four Bills that deliver on the Government’s commitments, ensure good stewardship of our regulatory systems, and provide relief and benefits to people across a wide range of sectors in New Zealand.

  • Legal aid scheme review

    The Government has decided to review New Zealand’s legal aid system, which is government funding to pay for legal assistance for people who cannot afford a lawyer.

  • Firearms reform

    We are reforming firearms law and regulation to provide for greater protection of public safety and simplify regulatory requirements to improve compliance.

  • Key initiatives archive

    This archive contains information on past projects.

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