NZ Engine

Source: Better Taxes for a Better Future

The decision by the Government to abandon the proposed Digital Services Tax has been described as very disappointing by the Better Taxes for a Better Future campaign, raising questions about how the Government intends to fill the revenue gap left by this move.  It also raises  questions about how the Government will ensure digital services companies are paying a fair rate of tax on their earnings in New Zealand.

The Digital Services Tax Bill, which was introduced by the previous Labour Government has been sitting on Parliament’s order paper since August 2023. It would have instituted a 3% tax on digital services revenue earned from New Zealand customers by large digital services companies. Treasury had already included the revenue from the proposed tax in its latest forecasts and estimated it would contribute $479m between 2027 and 2029.

“We need to know how the Government intends to plug the $479m revenue gap left by their decision to drop the Digital Services Tax, at a time when our public services, particularly health, are in crisis because of underfunding,” says Glenn Barclay spokesperson for the Better Taxes campaign.

“The digital economy has proven very difficult to tax and the absence of a digital services tax has allowed multi-national tech companies to avoid paying their fair share of tax in Aotearoa New Zealand.”

“Around 18 countries already operate digital services taxes, and while the American administration doesn’t like them, we are not aware of any countries repealing these laws in response to threats from the Trump administration,” says Glenn Barclay.

“Instead of giving in to such threats,the Government should have proceeded with the Bill, or at the very least left it on the Parliamentary Order Paper until it could be implemented or an alternative developed.”

“If the Government is stepping away from the Bill then we need to know how it intends to progress the taxation of  multi-national tech companies in this country, to ensure that these companies contribute to this country, rather than just exploiting their privileged position.” says Glenn Barclay.

“We don’t share the Minister’s optimism about an enforceable agreement on minimum corporate tax rates at the OECD in the medium term in the face of opposition from the Trump Administration. New Zealand needs another solution.”

“In addition it leaves another big question mark over how the Government will ensure advertising-dependent news local media will survive when their news and advertising is being taken by the social media giants who don’t pay a fair rate of tax,” says Glenn Barclay.

ENDS

Media spokesperson: Glenn Barclay – 027 295 5110

The Better Taxes for a Better Future Campaign is a coalition of over 20 organisations led by Tax Justice Aotearoa.

We believe that tax reform is the only solution to the current challenges facing Aotearoa NZ.  We need the tax system to:

be transparent
raise more revenue to enable us address the challenges we face
make sure people who have more to contribute make that contribution: that we gather more revenue from wealth, gains from wealth, all forms of income, and corporates
make greater use of fair taxes to promote good health and environmental health
address the tax impact on the least well off in our society.

Source: Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Te Pūtea Matua

21 May 2025 – The Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Te Pūtea Matua has published a Transitional Standard, outlining how deposit takers must collect and store customer information in the event of a deposit taker failure so that they can ensure timely payments.

The Deposit Takers (Depositor Compensation Scheme Transitional Provisions) Standard 2025 comes into force on 1 July 2025 and sets out how deposit takers should gather alternate bank details from depositors in the event of a failure, so that Depositor Compensation Scheme (DCS) payments can be made as quickly as possible.  

Deposit takers that provide online software for their depositors to view or manage their accounts, such as internet or mobile applications, must have a pre-positioned DCS depositor page that can be easily accessed on these platforms in the event of a failure. This requirement comes into effect on 1 July 2025 for non-mobile based platforms, and on 31 December 2025 for mobile-based applications.  

The DCS depositor page will be used to collect customers’ alternate bank account details so that DCS payments can be made into an active bank account at another deposit taker.  

Having a prepositioned DCS depositor page improves the user experience in the event of a failure as depositors will be able to verify their identity through their normal online process and enter their alternate account details. This should make the payment process faster and reduce risks associated with having to verify the identity of depositors on a separate platform.  

The Transitional Standard also sets out an alternate model for collecting customer data if deposit takers can collect the required information more efficiently using a different approach. Deposit takers have the option to submit a written proposal to the RBNZ that outlines their proposed alternate method for collecting depositor information securely from authorised individuals other than via a DCS depositor page.  

The RBNZ consulted on a draft of this Transitional Standard between 6 December 2024 and 7 February 2025 and received 10 submissions from a combination of deposit takers and industry bodies.  

You can find the Transitional Standard and Guidance here: https://govt.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd316aa7ee4f5679c56377819&id=6911a962bd&e=f3c68946f8

More information

Source: New Zealand Police

Hawke’s Bay Police are asking the public for information to stop dirt bike riders in their tracks, before they cause more serious harm.

Senior Sergeant Ross Smith says a woman and a young boy have been injured recently in two separate incidents due to “dangerous, and frankly stupid” behaviour by people on dirt bikes.

Last week on Wednesday an 8-year-old boy suffered a broken bone in his leg after being hit by a dirt bike rider in Flaxmere.

And on 24 April a woman was hit by a dirt bike outside a café in Hastings, causing moderate injuries, while the two young riders received critical and serious injuries.

“There continues to be ongoing issues with people of all ages riding dirt bikes illegally on roads, footpaths and parks, mainly in the Flaxmere and Camberley areas,” Senior Sergeant Smith says.

“Riders are not wearing helmets or robust safety clothing. The motorbikes are often unregistered, not warranted and some are in poor condition and not road worthy.

“These riders have little regard for other road users, pedestrians or families using the parks and the public are paying the price.

“We are also urging parents of children who use dirt bikes to make sure they do so in a safe way, otherwise more people will get hurt,” says Senior Sergeant Smith.

Police are prepared to take enforcement action when necessary.

We are asking people if they witness any of this kind of behaviour to report it to Police on 111 if it is happening now, or 105.police.govt.nz if it is after the fact.

If you see dirt bikes being ridden dangerously then please take photos or videos and send it into Hawke’s Bay Police through the 105 website.

You may have also captured them on other devices such as dash cams or house security cameras. This can be done anonymously through our 105 services.

Gain as much information as you are safely able to, including the type of activity, any descriptions of the bikes and riders, the areas where this activity occurs and where they may come from, and any photos or video footage.

If Police are not able to attend these incidents immediately, follow-up action will be taken.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

Please attribute to Inspector Soni Malaulau, Tairāwhiti Police:

Gisborne Police are urgently seeking information as to the whereabouts of a man who fled from rural property this morning.

Sonny Kennedy was arrested at a Whakarau Road address around 9:30am, and was searched, before being handcuffed at the front of his body.

An officer was walking the 36-year-old to a police vehicle, before he fled on foot towards Whakarau Road.

The property is approximately 6km south-east of Matawai, around 26km from the intersection with State Highway 2.

Kennedy was dressed in a dark-coloured hoodie and light-coloured trousers and sneakers, and may have fled to a nearby bush area.

Police are working urgently to find him, as there are concerns for his welfare due to his ill-preparedness for the conditions and his potential state of mind.

Police are asking to the public to help us with any information you can. If you see Kennedy or have information as to his whereabouts, please call 111 straight away with any information, rather than approach him directly.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre. 

Source: New Zealand Police

A forbidden driver has added serious drugs offences to his list of woes after a traffic stop in Whangārei this morning.

Frontline staff patrolling through Whangārei stopped a vehicle travelling along Memorial Drive before 1.30am.

Whangārei Area Commander, Inspector Maria Nordstrom says it was quickly established the 19-year-old was a forbidden driver.

“The teenager was arrested on the roadside, and in the process of searching the man he was found to be carrying illicit drugs.

“A further search was invoked on a shoulder bag he was wearing across his body.”

Inside, Police located more than 21 grams of MDMA and 491 LSD tablets.

Inspector Nordstrom says a further search inside the vehicle also located additional MDMA.

Around $150 in cash was also seized.

The 19-year-old will appear in the Whangārei District Court today on drugs offences including possession for supply of MDMA and possession of MDMA.

He will also face other driving offences.

“Possession for supply is a serious offence and carries with it a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment,” Inspector Nordstrom says.

“It’s another great outcome from our team working overnight keeping harmful substances out of communities.”

ENDS. 

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

Source: New Zealand Police

Police have caught up with two of Auckland’s most recidivist retail crime offenders this week.

Both men were of interest to the National Retail Investigation Support Unit (NRISU), after allegedly committing more than $10,000 worth of offending in recent months.

Early this morning, a Waitematā Crime Squad unit came across a vehicle in Massey while carrying out prevention patrols.

Detective Senior Sergeant Megan Goldie says a traffic stop was carried out on Don Buck Road.

“It was soon established the man was being sought in relation to a series of shoplifting from retailers across Auckland,” she says.

“The man will face seven shoplifting charges, with three of those being valued over $1000.”

The 41-year-old will be appearing in the Waitākere District Court today and will have his bail opposed.

Meanwhile, further south, Counties Manukau East Police have laid more than 10 charges against a Mongrel Mob member.

Area Prevention Manager, Inspector Rakana Cook says units were attending a family harm event in Ōtara on Sunday.

“Staff established one of the parties involved had numerous warrants for his arrest in relation to shoplifting offending in Auckland and Whangārei,” he says.

“He was also a target for the NRISU given how prolific his offending has been over the past month.”

Inspector Cook says the 34-year-old man appeared in the Manukau District Court on 10 shoplifting offences.

“Police successfully applied to have this man’s bail opposed and he has been remanded in custody to reappear in July.

“It’s a fantastic outcome and the man has been held accountable for thousands of dollars’ worth of offending.”

ENDS.

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

Source: New Zealand Police

Police can advise a person has died following a fatal crash on State Highway 12, near Matakohe.

The single vehicle crash occurred at around 1.30pm, west of Gallie Road.

Police extend condolences to the family of the victim.

A full road closure was put in place while the Serious Crash Unit carried out a scene examination.

Police thank motorists for their co-operation.

An investigation is now underway into the circumstances of the crash.

ENDS.

Nicole Bremner/NZ Police