New Zealand has taken a significant step to bolster its defences against cybercrime by joining the Budapest Convention, the world’s only binding international treaty on the issue.
The country’s Parliament has passed legislation aligning national laws with international standards, marking a major commitment to coordinated global action on digital threats.
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith highlighted the urgent need for the move, pointing to the high rate of cybercrime across the country. “11% of New Zealanders were victims of fraud and cybercrime in 2024, and the National Cyber Security Centre estimates $1.6bn was lost to online threats,” Goldsmith said. “The emotional and financial harm caused by cybercrime is significant, and such a quickly evolving threat warrants a coordinated response.”
The Budapest Convention, formally known as the Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime, is designed to harmonise cybercrime laws among member countries and facilitate international cooperation in criminal investigations. By joining the convention, New Zealand is aiming to strengthen the capabilities of its law enforcement agencies to respond to increasingly complex digital crimes.
“By joining the convention, we are signalling to the other like-minded countries that we take cybercrime seriously and we are prepared to do our part to eliminate it,” Goldsmith added. “It will help our law enforcement agencies to protect New Zealanders, by providing the tools they need to detect, investigate, and prosecute criminal offending, even when it happens online.”
The new legislation includes several key provisions to ensure compliance with the Convention. These include the introduction of ‘preservation directions’ under the Search and Surveillance Act, which give law enforcement the authority to require companies to retain data that could serve as evidence in cybercrime cases.
Amendments have also been made to the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act, strengthening New Zealand’s capacity to request and provide support in international investigations. Additionally, minor changes to the Crimes Act ensure that cyber offences and misuse of computer systems are fully in line with the Convention’s standards.
These updates reflect New Zealand’s commitment to a globally harmonised legal framework to counteract cybercrime, providing its authorities with better tools to act decisively against threats that transcend borders.
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