New Zealand proposes tougher anti-terrorism laws

New Zealand has proposed changes to its counter-terrorism laws to provide more restrictions on potential perpetrators of attacks.

The country’s Parliament is considering changes to the Control Orders Act and the Terrorism Suppression Act.

The changes follow the introduction of the Counter-Terrorism Legislation bill in 2021 in the wake of a knife attack on several people at an Auckland supermarket by a man with known extremist views.

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“While no law can ever stop a motivated terrorist from undertaking an attack these changes will go a long way in preventing, disrupting and limiting their ability to do so,” Justice Minister Kiri Allen said in a statement.

The changes include expanding the criteria for who can have restrictions placed on them in the community, increasing flexibility on whether someone under a control order has their identity suppressed, and making it more difficult for those categorized to have the designation of “terrorist” removed.

Zainab Sa’id