9 Sep 2014

Parliament to tackle match-fixing

8:00 pm on 9 September 2014

Police say they will be ready to crack down on corruption in sport, ahead of two major international events being held in New Zealand next year.

Match-fixing legislation is set to be passed in Parliament in December, and members of the International Cricket Council's anti-corruption unit have been in the country briefing police.

The national commander for the Cricket World Cup and football's Under-20 World Cup said investigators were undergoing specialist training.

Sandra Manderson said police would have greater powers under the new Match-fixing Amendment Bill.

"We've had general penalties before such as fraud and other types of Crimes Act offences as well, but this will give us a specific penalty for match-fixing, it will give us more teeth to act."

Ms Manderson said police are building up their intelligence before the cricket tournament to help identify people of interest before they arrived in the country.

Groups have been set up to help New Zealand and Australian authorities to work together, she said.