New Zealand’s Ministerial Advisory Group for Victims of Retail Crime has defended its work amid questions about its cost, leadership culture, and early closure.

Formed in July 2024 and dissolved in May 2026, the taskforce, commonly referred to as the Retail Crime Taskforce, was created to respond to a surge in offending that industry leaders described as unprecedented. At its peak, retail crime was estimated to cost the country $2.6 billion annually.

Now, with resignations, political criticism, and public debate over proposed law changes, the group’s legacy is under renewed examination.

A Sector Under Pressure

Between 2018 and 2024, retail crime escalated sharply across New Zealand. Industry data showed:

  • An 86 percent increase in overall retail offending over five years
  • A 72 percent rise in sexual assault-related incidents occurring in retail environments
  • A sixfold increase in ram raids between 2018 and 2023
  • 760 RAM raid incidents were recorded in the year ending August 2023

Ram raids, where vehicles are driven into storefronts to access goods quickly, became symbolic of the crisis. For many small business owners, especially dairy operators and independent retailers, repeated attacks created financial instability and psychological strain.

By late 2023, the total economic impact of retail crime was estimated at $2.6 billion annually:

  • $1.4 billion in stolen goods and inventory loss
  • $1.1 billion in direct loss prevention costs
  • $100 million in employee well-being and recovery costs

For many retailers, the issue was no longer just about theft. It was about safety, retention, and survival.

How the Taskforce Was Formed

On 11 July 2024, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee established the Ministerial Advisory Group for Victims of Retail Crime.

The group was funded through the Proceeds of Crime Fund, which is financed by assets seized from criminal organisations under the Criminal Proceeds Recovery Act 2009. It received an annual allocation of $1.8 million.

The intent was to redirect money recovered from crime back into protecting victims of that same crime. Ministers framed it as a targeted intervention aligned with the government’s broader goal of reducing violent crime.

Sunny Kaushal, a long-time advocate for small retailers and dairy owners, chaired the group. Members included representatives from Retail NZ, Foodstuffs North Island, Michael Hill, and regional business leaders.

Spending Under the Spotlight

Between July 2024 and December 2025, the task force spent approximately $1.82 million.

Key expenses included:

  • $238,625 for the Chairperson in year one, invoiced at $920 per day
  • $120,000 per year for Auckland office space
  • $24,000 in stakeholder meeting catering and venue hire
  • Policy consultant rates between $1,036 and $1,261 per day

A parliamentary hearing brought attention to catering costs, including drinks and meeting platters. Opposition MPs described some spending as excessive.

Minister Goldsmith acknowledged that certain events were over-catered but maintained the meetings were essential for engaging a sector that felt unheard.

Supporters argue the group delivered substantial policy groundwork within its budget. Critics argue that governance and oversight should have been tighter.

The Most Controversial Reform

The task force’s most debated recommendation was expanding citizens’ arrest powers.

Under existing law, private citizens had limited authority to detain offenders. The group proposed:

  • Allowing citizens’ arrests at any time of day
  • Extending powers to cover all offences under the Crimes Act
  • Explicitly permitting the use of reasonable force

Proponents said this would deter brazen grab-and-run thefts and restore confidence among retailers.

Critics warned it risked escalating violence and placing untrained workers in dangerous confrontations.

Even within the group, there were differing views. Some members expressed concern about unintended consequences and liability risks.

Internal Fractures and Resignations

By late 2025, cracks within the task force became public.

Carolyn Young of Retail NZ resigned, describing the working environment as unpleasant and saying her relationship with the chair had become untenable.

Lindsay Rowles of Foodstuffs and Michael Bell of Michael Hill also stepped down, citing career and external commitments.

Behind the scenes, tensions reportedly reflected a divide between small independent retailers and larger corporate operators.

Small retailers, who were highly visible victims of ram raids, pushed for stronger self-defence and deterrence measures. Corporate retailers, representing the majority of retail turnover, prioritised structured security frameworks and standardised protocols.

In May 2026, the government wound up the group four months early, stating that its key policy proposals were already being progressed into legislation.

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The Human Cost

Beyond economics and politics, retail crime has had a significant psychosocial impact.

A 2023 survey of more than 1,000 retail workers found:

  • 39 percent had experienced or witnessed offensive behaviour in the previous year
  • 23 percent reported constant stress or burnout
  • 32 percent had considered leaving the industry due to safety concerns

Retailers estimated spending $73 million annually on crime-related wellbeing support, including counselling and employee assistance programmes.

The task force recommended adding aggravating factors at sentencing when crimes are committed against retail workers. It also explored defensive tools such as pepper spray, though that proposal remained controversial.

For frontline staff, the issue was not abstract. It was a daily risk.

A Divided Legacy

Supporters of the Retail Crime Taskforce argue it forced the issue into the national spotlight and accelerated legislative reform.

They point to five major policy reports, proposed amendments to the Crimes Act, trespass reform, and a shoplifting infringement regime designed to provide quicker consequences for low-level theft.

Critics say the group became distracted by internal conflict and public controversy, weakening its effectiveness and undermining confidence in its governance.

What is clear is that retail crime reshaped the national conversation around justice, public safety, and the boundaries of self-defence.

What Happens Next

With the advisory group now dissolved, responsibility shifts fully back to Parliament and the Ministry of Justice.

Legislation influenced by the group’s recommendations continues to move through drafting and consultation phases. Whether expanded citizen’s arrest powers or infringement reforms will ultimately pass remains to be seen.

For retailers and workers, the pressure has not disappeared.

The taskforce may be gone, but the underlying question remains: how does New Zealand balance deterrence, safety, fairness, and accountability in its retail spaces?

As scrutiny intensifies, that debate is far from over.

Webfit News has been tracking the rise in retail crime since the spike in ram raids first began reshaping public debate in 2022. What started as isolated incidents has evolved into a national policy battleground involving business owners, lawmakers, frontline workers, and community leaders.

What This Means for Local Communities

For many Auckland and regional retailers, the debate is not about policy theory. It is about whether they feel safe opening their doors each morning.

Small business owners have repeatedly told Webfit News that insurance premiums, security upgrades, and staff stress are now built into their daily operating costs. Larger retailers are focused on structured prevention systems, but independent operators say they often feel exposed and unheard.

This contrast highlights why the task force became both influential and controversial.

Now you are grounding it in lived reality.

As previously reported by Webfit News in our coverage of rising ram raid incidents across Auckland, public confidence in retail safety has become a key political issue.

Retail crime is no longer just a policing issue. It is now a test of governance, economic resilience, and workplace safety.

Whether the reforms inspired by the task force deliver meaningful change will determine if retailers regain confidence or remain under pressure.

Webfit News will continue monitoring legislative developments and their real-world impact on New Zealand businesses and workers.