The Ram Raid Offending and Related Measures Amendment Bill is a proposed New Zealand Act of Parliament that would add

ram raids Ram-raiding is a type of burglary in which a heavy vehicle is driven into the windows or doors of a building, usually a department store or jeweller's shop, to allow the perpetrators to loot it. Etymology The Oxford English Dictionary notes ...

and other "smash and grab" offenses to the

Crimes Act 1961 The Crimes Act 1961 is an act of New Zealand Parliament that forms a leading part of the criminal law in New Zealand. It repeals the Crimes Act 1908, itself a successor of the Criminal Code Act 1893. Most crimes in New Zealand are created by t ...

and give Police the power to prosecute juvenile ram raiders including 12 and 13-year olds. On 4 February 2025, the legislation was halted by the Sixth National Government in favour of proposed legislation targeting youth offenders.

Provisions

The Bill amends the

, the Criminal Investigations (Bodily Samples) Act 1995, the

Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 The Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 or Children's and Young People's Well-being Act 1989 (titled the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1989 prior to 14 July 2017) is an Act of the New Zealand Parliament that was passed in 1989. The Act's ...

and the Sentencing Act 2002 to make

ram-raiding Ram-raiding is a type of burglary in which a heavy vehicle is driven into the windows or doors of a building, usually a department store or jeweller's shop, to allow the perpetrators to loot it. Etymology The Oxford English Dictionary notes ...

a specific offense and to strengthen legal penalties against ram raiders. *Inserts a new section 231B into the Crimes Act 1961 to criminalise ram-raiding. *Amends the Criminal Investigations (Bodily Samples) Act 1995 to allow bodily samples to be collected from 12 and 13 year old offenders facing ram-raiding charges in the

Youth Court Juvenile court, also known as young offender's court or children's court, is a tribunal having special authority to pass judgements for crimes committed by children who have not attained the age of majority. In most modern legal systems, chi ...

. *Amends the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 to allow 12 and 13-years olds to be processed in the Youth Court on ram-raiding charges. *The Bill also makes livestreaming ram raids, posting a copy of a livestream online or digitally distributing a copy of the livestream a corresponding factor in sentencing youth offenders under the Sentencing Act 2002. *Amends the Sentencing Act 2002 to target adults who encourage or help a child or young person commit a ram raid, and offenders who produce and disseminate livestreams of ram raids.

History

Background

Ram-raiding Ram-raiding is a type of burglary in which a heavy vehicle is driven into the windows or doors of a building, usually a department store or jeweller's shop, to allow the perpetrators to loot it. Etymology The Oxford English Dictionary notes ...

was perceived as becoming an epidemic in New Zealand during the 2020s. In July 2022,

Radio New Zealand Radio New Zealand (), commonly known as RNZ or Radio NZ, is a New Zealand public service broadcaster and Crown entity. Established under the Radio New Zealand Act 1995, it operates news and current affairs station, RNZ National, and a classi ...

reported a 400% increase in ram raids between 2017 and 2022; with 76% of those arrested being under the age of 18 years and 14% having connections to organised crime. Key driving factors included the influence of

social media Social media are interactive technologies that facilitate the Content creation, creation, information exchange, sharing and news aggregator, aggregation of Content (media), content (such as ideas, interests, and other forms of expression) amongs ...

, dysfunctional family backgrounds, lack of role models, and poverty. Most vehicles used in ram-raids are used ex-Japan models such as the

Mazda Demio The is a subcompact/ supermini/ B-segment small car manufactured by Mazda since 1996. While sold across four generations in the domestic Japanese market, the Demio nameplate was rarely used outside of Japan, where it was usually called the Maz ...

Mazda Atenza is a Japanese multinational automotive manufacturer headquartered in Fuchū, Hiroshima, Japan. The company was founded on January 30, 1920, as Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., a cork-making factory, by Jujiro Matsuda. The company then acquired Ab ...

Nissan Tiida The is a compact car produced by the Japanese manufacturer Nissan from 2004 to 2023 through three generations. Depending on the market, the Tiida was also marketed as a subcompact car, particularly in the Americas for the first-generation model ...

and

Toyota Aqua The is a full hybrid electric subcompact/supermini hatchback (B-segment) manufactured and marketed by Toyota since 2011. The nameplate is exclusive to the Japanese domestic market, as the vehicle was exported to overseas markets as the Priu ...

; these cars are easy to steal due to Japan's low crime rate and therefore low uptake of anti-theft measures such as immobilisers. The New Zealand Police took enforcement action against 37% of the ram raids; with 61% of offenders being prosecuted and another 39% being referred to youth agencies. In 2022 alone, police recorded 516 ram raids and apprehended 708 offenders; with 495 being under 17 years, 70 under 13 years, and 88 being adults. In response to ram raids, the Labour Government allocated NZ$6,000,000 for the Police's Small Retailer Crime Prevention Fund in late August 2022. The fund allows stores to purchase protective equipment such as shatterproof glass, bollards, fog cannons, and roller doors to counter ram raids. By March 2023, over NZ$2,000,000 had been spent from the fund.

Police Commissioner A police commissioner is the head of a police department, responsible for overseeing its operations and ensuring the effective enforcement of laws and maintenance of public order. They develop and implement policies, manage budgets, and coordinate ...

Andrew Coster Andrew David Coster (born ) is a New Zealand senior public servant and former police officer. Currently the Secretary for Social Investment and chief executive of the Social Investment Agency, he served as Commissioner of Police from 3 April 20 ...

expressed concern about police difficulty with prosecuting juvenile offenders.

Prime Minister A prime minister or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. A prime minister is not the head of state, but r ...

Jacinda Ardern Dame Jacinda Kate Laurell Ardern ( ; born 26 July 1980) is a New Zealand politician and activist who was the 40th prime minister of New Zealand and Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party, leader of the Labour Party from 2017 to 2023. She was ...

stated that the Government preferred alternatives to incarcerating youths in order to reduce reoffending. By contrast, opposition

ACT party ACT New Zealand (; ), also known as the ACT Party or simply ACT, is a right-wing, classical liberal, right-libertarian, and conservative political party in New Zealand. It is currently led by David Seymour, and is in coalition with the Nationa ...

leader

David Seymour David Breen Seymour (born 24 June 1983) is a New Zealand politician who has served as the 21st deputy prime minister of New Zealand since 2025 and as the 1st minister for regulation since 2023. A member of the ACT Party, he has served as its ...

has advocated fitting youth offenders with ankle bracelets to counter ram-raids and robberies. Similarly, the opposition

National Party National Party or Nationalist Party may refer to: Active parties * National Party of Australia, commonly known as ''The Nationals'' * Bangladesh: ** Bangladesh Nationalist Party ** Jatiya Party (Ershad) a.k.a. ''National Party (Ershad)'' * Californ ...

leader

Christopher Luxon Christopher Mark Luxon (; born 19 July 1970) is a New Zealand politician and former business executive who has served as the 42nd prime minister of New Zealand since 2023 and as leader of the National Party since 2021. He previously served ...

has advocated sending young ram-raiders and other serious youth offenders to military-style boot camps.

First reading

On 29 August 2023, the Ram Raid Offending Bill passed its first reading. Its sponsor

Justice Minister A justice ministry, ministry of justice, or department of justice, is a ministry or other government agency in charge of the administration of justice. The ministry or department is often headed by a minister of justice (minister for justice in a ...

Ginny Andersen Virginia Ruby Andersen (born 1975) is a New Zealand politician. She has been a Member of Parliament in the House of Representatives for the Labour Party since the 2017 New Zealand general election. Andersen held the offices of Minister of P ...

argued the Bill would address the recent rise in

ram raiding Ram-raiding is a type of burglary in which a heavy vehicle is driven into the windows or doors of a building, usually a department store or jeweller's shop, to allow the perpetrators to loot it. Etymology The Oxford English Dictionary notes ...

, "smash and grab" crimes, and youth crime by giving Police and courts greater powers to prosecute these crimes and deal with 12 and 13 year old youth offenders. The

National National may refer to: Common uses * Nation or country ** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen Places in the United States * National, Maryland, c ...

and ACT parties supported the Bill, with

Paul Goldsmith Paul Edward Goldsmith (October 2, 1925 – September 6, 2024) was an American racing driver. During his career he raced A.M.A. Grand National Championship, motorcycles, Stock car racing, stock cars, and American open-wheel car racing, Indianapol ...

, Mark Mitchell, Chris Baillie and

Simon O'Connor Simon David O'Connor (born 25 February 1976) is a New Zealand politician and a former member of the New Zealand House of Representatives for the New Zealand National Party, National Party. He represented the Tāmaki (New Zealand electorate), T� ...

describing the bill as an overdue mechanism needed to address retail crime and youth offending. By contrast, the Bill was opposed by the

Green Party A green party is a formally organized political party based on the principles of green politics, such as environmentalism and social justice. Green party platforms typically embrace Social democracy, social democratic economic policies and fo ...

and

Te Pāti Māori (), also known as the Māori Party, is a left-wing political party in New Zealand advocating Māori people, Māori rights. With the exception of a handful of New Zealand electorates#Electorates in the 53rd Parliament, general electorates, co ...

. Green MP

Golriz Ghahraman Golriz Ghahraman (; born 1981) is a New Zealand former politician, lawyer and writer. The former United Nations lawyer was a child asylum seeker, and became the first refugee elected to New Zealand Parliament, New Zealand's Parliament. Ghahrama ...

argued a

tough on crime In modern politics, "law and order" is an ideological approach focusing on harsher enforcement and penalties as ways to reduce crime. Penalties for perpetrators of disorder may include longer terms of imprisonment, mandatory sentencing, three-s ...

approach towards retail crime and youth offending would not work and objected to taking bodily samples from 12 and 13 year old suspects. Māori Party co-leader

Debbie Ngarewa-Packer Debbie Anne Ngarewa-Packer is a New Zealand politician, iwi leader and activist. She is a Member of Parliament and co-leader of Te Pāti Māori alongside Rawiri Waititi, and is the chief executive of the Ngāti Ruanui iwi. Ngarewa-Packer st ...

disagreed with taking a punitive approach to youth crime and advocated focusing on addressing poverty and mental health issues among offenders. That same day,

Attorney General In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general (: attorneys general) or attorney-general (AG or Atty.-Gen) is the main legal advisor to the government. In some jurisdictions, attorneys general also have executive responsibility for law enf ...

David Parker expressed concerns that the Ram Raid Offending bill breached the

New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 The New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 (sometimes known by the acronym NZBORA or simply BORA) is a statute of the Parliament of New Zealand and part of New Zealand's uncodified constitution that sets out the rights and fundamental freedoms ...

on three grounds: the right of a child to be dealt with in an age appropriate way, the right to be free from unreasonable search and seizure, and the right to freedom of expression.

Select committee

During a Justice select committee hearing on 12 March 2024 Pride Project members Aaron Tyree and Eryka Kiri, Voyce national spokesperson Tupua Urlich, YouthLaw general manager Darryn Atchison and

New Zealand Law Society The New Zealand Law Society () is the parent body for barristers and solicitors in New Zealand. It was established in 1869, and regulates all lawyers practising in New Zealand. Membership of the society is voluntary, although any person wishing ...

representatives Dale Lloyd and Professor Jermey Finn criticised the proposed Bill, which they described as punitive and failed to address the causes of crime including poverty and dysfunctional families. Lloyd said the proposed legislation breached internarional conventions on children's rights while Finn criticised the vague wording on those liable for ram raid offenses.

Responses

In early June 2024, several community leaders including doctors, youth advocates and lawyers organised a petition opposing the Ram Raid Bill. They also sent an open letter calling for the Government to stop work on the legislation, arguing that a punitive response would hurt marginalised and impoverished children and young people. Notable individuals and groups supporting the petition and open letter included Kick Back founder and youth worker Aaron Hendry and People Against Prisons Aotearoa spokesperson and criminology lecturer Emmy Rakete.

Termination

On 5 February 2025,

and Minister for Children Karen Chhour confirmed that the Sixth National Government would discontinue the ram raid legislation in favour of new legislation targeting youth offenders. The Sixth National Government has confirmed plans to introduce a "Youth Serious Offender declaration" allowing courts to send serious youth offenders to military-style academies.

Notes and references

External links

* *{{cite web , title=Ram Raid Offending and Related Measures Amendment Bill , url=https://legislation.govt.nz/bill/government/2023/0283/latest/d3995554e2.html , website=New Zealand Legislation , publisher= Parliamentary Counsel Office , access-date=10 May 2024 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240510133214/https://legislation.govt.nz/bill/government/2023/0283/latest/d3995554e2.html , archive-date=10 May 2024 , url-status=live 2023 in New Zealand law 2024 in New Zealand law Crime in New Zealand Human rights in New Zealand Law enforcement in New Zealand