New Zealand has joined a global alliance to fight cybercrime, passing new legislation this week to boost online safety and strengthen international cooperation.

Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith confirmed the country will now adopt the Budapest Convention, the world’s only binding cybercrime treaty, following a year in which 11 percent of Kiwis were hit by online scams, costing an estimated $1.6 billion.

“The emotional and financial harm is significant,” Goldsmith said. “This law gives us the tools to keep up.”

For Coasties, the changes mean better protection from email scams, identity theft, and online fraud.

Police and agencies will now be able to preserve digital evidence faster and work more closely with overseas counterparts when crime crosses borders, as it often does online.

The Crimes Act has also been updated to better define and prosecute cyber offences.

Why it hits close to home

Cybercrime isn’t just a big-city problem.

It affects everyday Coastie, from small business owners caught in phishing scams to parents dealing with hacked accounts.

These new laws give law enforcement stronger tools to step in before things spiral.

Whether it’s a local tradie scammed out of payment or a teen hacked on social media, the goal is the same: faster action, stronger protections, and safer digital lives for all of us.

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