This member's bill (in the name of Tom Rutherford) amends the Sentencing Act 2002 and the Parole Act 2002 so that an offender's refusal to disclose the location of a victim's body is treated as an aggravating factor at sentencing and must be considered by the Parole Board when deciding on release. It passed its first reading on the voices on 22 July 2026 and has been referred to the Justice Committee.
A member's bill from National MP Tom Rutherford, often called a 'no body, no parole' law. It would amend the Sentencing Act 2002 so that an offender's refusal to reveal where a victim's body is becomes an aggravating factor — something that can increase a sentence — and amend the Parole Act 2002 so the Parole Board must weigh that refusal when deciding whether to release someone. It is modelled on similar laws in the UK and Australia.
Rutherford says it recognises the anguish of families who cannot lay a loved one to rest and puts victims at the heart of the justice system; a Christchurch family has campaigned for the change. The Attorney-General's Bill of Rights report warned it could risk detaining someone longer than public safety justifies, and concerns have been raised about wrongly convicted people or those who genuinely cannot recall a location.
See the Parliament.nz ↗ site for the full bill.