These policies were last reviewed and updated on 15/07. Policy positions are reviewed and updated every Wednesday.
National’s retail crime approach has been anchored in the Ministerial Advisory Group (MAG) for Victims of Retail Crime, established to fast-track operational solutions. National supports the group’s core proposals, which include expanding citizens’ arrest legislation to permit mechanical restraints, introducing on-the-spot fines, and increasing maximum trespass notice durations from two to three years.
Since taking office, National have pledged $480 million over 4 years to support front line policing, pledging 500 more police by the end of 2025. The ongoing work of the MAG includes expanding the use of facial recognition technology (FRT) for identifying recidivist offenders, strengthening the powers available to private security guards, and introducing new “move-on” orders to curb persistent antisocial behaviour outside retail storefronts.
Labour has opposed the Ministerial Advisory Group’s (MAG) citizen’s arrest proposals, arguing that encouraging untrained workers to physically detain shoplifters introduces safety risks on the shop floor. Labour has spoken out on frontline police numbers and whilst in government, funded the installation of anti-crime infrastructure such as fog canons.
The Labour Party had not made any specific policy announcements about Retail Crime for the 2026 election at the time of the last page review.
The Green Party strongly opposes the proposed expansion of citizens’ arrest powers, move-on orders, and trespass powers. They argue that encouraging untrained retail workers to carry out citizen’s arrest escalates the risk of violence on the shop floor. Furthermore, they caution that trespass proposals risks driving racial profiling against Māori and Pasifika, and particularly rangatahi Māori. The Greens say justice is best achieved by funding community-led prevention and early intervention.
ACT championed the legislative push to expand citizens’ arrest powers, framing it as a vital mechanism to empower shopkeepers and security staff to protect their property. Further to this, ACT has proposed a new license granting elevated powers to trained security guards, including use of reasonable force and consent-based safety searches. ACT have proposed early release for prisoners who learn to read, take on a trade and get a qualification in prison. For burglars who re-offend, ACT have proposed minimum sentencing of 3 years on the third burglary conviction.
This term New Zealand First’s Associate Police and Customs Minister, Casey Costello, has focused on dismantling the transnational criminal syndicates that feed the black market with stolen retail goods and illicit tobacco. She has recently announced investment in Custom’s equipment and people to support this agenda.
Te Pāti Māori has opposed to the citizens’ arrest and trespass amendments, cautioning that the policies may disproportionately harm Māori and Pasifika communities.
Te Pāti Māori say they want to create an Aotearoa where prisons are not needed. They say they want to want to “move resources away from ineffective prisons towards effective prevention, rehabilitation, and community-led solutions”.
In May 2026, Te Tai Tokerau MP Mariameno Kapa-Kingi announced she was splitting from Te Pāti Māori and would contest the 2026 General Election as part of a new political party, named Te Tai Tokerau Party. Ms Kapa-Kingi announced the party would be grounded in tino rangatiratanga, local decision-making, and mana mokopuna. We will post the party policies here as they’re released.
Opportunity advocate for a “Smart on Crime” approach, backing investment in evidence based solutions to reduce crime.
Retail NZ has included the policies of all parties currently represented in Parliament, listed in order of the number of seats they currently occupy. Additionally, any parties that poll at or above 3% in a political poll during 2026* will also be included underneath, in chronological order of when they met that threshold. Policies are reviewed and updated every Wednesday.
*Opportunity reached 3% in the 1News Verian Poll on 19 April 2026.
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