The New Zealand Government has announced new legislative protections designed to empower online service providers to act more decisively against scam content, marking a significant step in the country’s fight against online financial fraud.
Under the new measures, a “safe harbour” provision will be introduced through the Fair Trading Amendment Act. This provision offers a legal defence for platforms such as social media companies and telecommunications providers when they act in good faith to remove or disrupt suspected scam websites or content. The aim is to give these providers greater confidence to act swiftly and responsibly, without fear of civil liability when tackling scams.
The safe harbour will be subject to conditions to ensure it is used appropriately, balancing the need to protect consumers while avoiding unnecessary disruption to legitimate businesses operating online.
This legislative change is part of a broader government strategy to reduce scam-related harm, which has seen reported financial losses in New Zealand exceed $200 million annually. The initiative is closely linked to the work of the Anti-Scam Alliance, a cross-sector partnership between government and private organisations established in July 2025. The Alliance is focused on preventing, detecting, and disrupting scams through improved codes of practice, enhanced intelligence and data sharing, and increased public education.
To further support these efforts, the Alliance is developing a “trusted flagger” system. This will enable law enforcement and regulators to share verified scam intelligence directly with online platforms, helping them to identify and remove fraudulent content more effectively.
The safe harbour provision is expected to be formally introduced to Parliament in early 2026, following earlier changes to penalties for scam-related offences announced in November. The government’s all-of-government approach also includes engagement with the banking sector, telecommunications, and digital platforms to strengthen industry codes of conduct and improve consumer protections.
These new protections reflect a coordinated national response to the growing threat of online scams, aiming to make New Zealand a harder target for scammers and to better safeguard individuals and communities from financial harm.
For more information on how to avoid and report scams, visit the Consumer Protection Scamwatch Website.
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