Gang legislation

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

The purpose of the Act is to reduce the ability of gangs to operate and cause fear, intimidation, and disruption to the public by—

prohibiting the display of gang insignia in public places,
providing for the issue of dispersal notices to stop gang members from gathering in public places, and
providing for the making of non-consorting orders to prevent specified gang offenders from associating or communicating with each other for 3 years.

The Act came into force on 21 November 2024 and repealed the Wanganui District Council (Prohibition of Gang Insignia) Act 2009 and the Prohibition of Gang Insignia in Government Premises Act 2013.

A key feature of the Act are non-consorting orders(external link). A non-consorting order is a court order that the Police can apply for, to stop a specified gang offender from communicating and associating with other specified gang offenders for three years.

Further information:

Gangs Act 2024(external link)

Non-consorting orders(external link)

Gangs Legislation Amendment Bill(external link) (Justice Committee website)

Regulatory Impact Statement: Responding to Gang Harms(external link)

Cabinet papers and minutes: Gangs Legislation Amendment Bill(external link)

Cabinet papers, minutes, and briefing: Gangs Legislation Amendment Bill – Escalating Penalties(external link)

Cabinet paper, minute, and aide memoire: Gangs Legislation Amendment Bill – Public Place Amendment paper(external link)