Complexities of the Policing Amendment Bill w/ Professor Gehan Gunasekara: 2nd April, 2026

A new law change known as the Policing Amendment Bill is raising concerns about privacy and police powers in Aotearoa.

The bill would give police expanded powers, including the ability to record and retain short-lived videos in public.

Supporters say it will help police respond more effectively to crime, but critics are worried the rules are too vague, with a low threshold for collecting personal information and not enough safeguards around how that data is stored or used. There are also concerns that the changes could disproportionately affect Māori and young people.

Wire Producer Pranuja spoke to Gehan Gunasekara, Professor of Commercial Law at the University of Auckland Business School, about what this could mean for everyday New Zealanders.