Anti-social road use

In May 2025, the Minister of Transport and Minister of Police announced that the Government is progressing a suite of measures to deter antisocial and intimidating behaviour on our roads.

Why is the Government making these changes?

Antisocial behaviour on our roads includes drivers who flee Police, participate in illegal street racing, unlawful bike gatherings, siren battles or intimidating convoys.

These behaviours can be disruptive and dangerous, negatively effecting the safety of our roads and communities.

Police reporting suggests some of these behaviours are increasing in frequency and sophistication. There have been several recent high-profile events of anti-social road use reported across New Zealand. These events can include large groups, that can make it difficult for Police to respond to and manage this dangerous behaviour.

What is the Government proposing?

The Antisocial Road Use Legislation Amendment Bill (the ‘Bill’) will create new offences and strengthen existing offences and penalties with the aim to deter participation in anti-social road use activities. The legislation will provide the Police greater tools to respond to and manage anti-social road use events.

Key changes progressing in the Bill will:

• require the courts to either forfeit or destroy vehicles that commit certain anti-social road use offences, with exceptions,
• create a new offence for ‘intimidating convoys’ with the consequence of vehicle forfeiture or destruction, 
• expand and strengthen Police powers to require the registered person of a vehicle to provide details of the driver if the vehicle was used to flee Police, so that it applies to other anti-social road use offences. The consequence of withholding information includes vehicle forfeiture or destruction,
• give Police greater powers to temporarily close areas and disperse crowds at anti-social road events, including by establishing a new $1,000 infringement fine for those who fail to leave areas when directed to by Police, and
• increase excessive noise fines to target siren battles, from $50 to $300 for the infringement and from $1000 to $3000 for the court fine. 

Public Consultation

Public submissions on the Bill were open between 14 August 2025 to 30 September 2025. Submissions were heard and reviewed by the Justice Committee (the Committee). You can find out more details about submissions made here: https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/make-a-submission/

The Frequently asked questions link provides further context and information.

Select Committee

Officials have analysed submissions and made suggestions to the Committee about changes to the Bill. The Committee has reviewed these and suggested changes to the Government that they think are needed for the proposals to work as intended.

The Select Committee reported back on the Bill on 16 December 2025. There has been a series of minor amendments to the Bill to make it more workable. You can read the Committee report here: https://selectcommittees.parliament.nz/v/6/2fb5fda0-94d9-4358-fe8a-08de3b78e3bf?lang=en

The Government intends the Bill to be enacted in early 2026, and for changes to take effect in the second half of the year.

Next Steps

The Bill will now go for its second reading in the house in early 2026 before going to Committee of the whole. The Bill is intended to be passed later this year.