12856 (2026). Arena Williams to the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs

Written Question

Published date: 24 Apr 2026

Metadata

Document type:	Written Question
Parliament number:	54
Question number:	12856 (2026)
Question asked:	07 Apr 2026
Member asking:	Arena Williams
Portfolio:	Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs
Minister replying:	Cameron Brewer
Answer received:	20 Apr 2026
Status:	Question Answered
Reply type:	Reply
Document ID:	WQ_12856_2026
Document guid:	2e643f11-59f9-404c-8a32-2e128d2f1fb0

12856 (2026). Arena Williams to the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs: Does the Minister agree with the call by financial crime specialist Gabby Lewis for greater regulation of social media and telco companies to address the risk of organized cybercrime syndicates targeting New Zealand?

Cameron Brewer: Reducing exposure to scams is important. Regulation is one way to address the risk of organised cybercrime syndicates targeting New Zealand, but it is not the only way. I look forward to working with my Ministerial colleagues in the Justice and Police portfolios to continue to address this risk. I am proud of the work that Anti-Scam Alliance is doing under this Government’s leadership to reduce New Zealanders' exposure to scams. This work includes the launch of the Online Scams Code in March and work by Meta and New Zealand Police to take down scam centres in Thailand.