Submissions are open for the Crimes Act Amendment Bill. Hospitality operators should take note of proposed changes to criminal law currently making their way through Parliament. The proposals could impact how venues operate and protect their staff.
The Crimes Amendment Bill, introduced in December 2025, contains several provisions with implications for hospitality operators. These include how venues can respond to theft and violence, to new legal risks around employment practices.
Key provisions affecting hospitality
Shoplifting and retail crime
The bill introduces a new shoplifting infringement regime designed to address the retail crime challenges facing businesses across New Zealand. While primarily targeting traditional retail, the provisions could also benefit hospitality venues dealing with theft of goods, equipment, or customer belongings.
Protecting workers from violence
Perhaps most relevant to hospitality operators are the enhanced protections for workers facing assault. The bill creates three new offences specifically for assaults on first responders and corrections officers, with maximum penalties increased.
Expanded citizen’s arrest powers
The bill provides additional citizen’s arrest powers. These potentially give hospitality operators and security staff more tools to deal with immediate security threats, disorderly conduct, or theft on their premises.
Looking ahead
The Crimes Amendment Bill represents a shift in how the law addresses retail crime and violence against workers, with several provisions that intersect with hospitality operations. The enhanced protections for workers facing assault, expanded citizen’s arrest powers, and new infringement regimes for shoplifting all have potential applications in venues dealing with theft, disorder, and patron violence.
However, the practical impact will depend on implementation details, police resources, and how venues adapt their own policies and procedures to work within the new framework. The concurrent wage theft legislation adds another layer of compliance requirements that hospitality operators must navigate carefully.
As the bill progresses through Parliament, hospitality operators are encouraged to remain engaged with the legislative process. Ensure you understand both the opportunities and obligations these changes may create for your businesses.