A new match-fixing law that will give police more power to deal with people trying to rig sporting events has been passed unanimously in Parliament.
The Crime Match Fixing Amendment Bill has been passed before New Zealand co-hosts the ICC Cricket World Cup and hosts the FIFA Under 20 World Cup next year.
The law amends the Crimes Act to clarify that match-fixing is a form of criminal deception.
The bill was supported by all political parties, but the Greens' spokesperson for sport, Kevin Hague, said he doubted that it would stop match-fixing.
"The bill will not stop match-fixing. I think it will make some small contribution towards reducing the extent of match-fixing, but the existence of sports betting and the powerful commercial incentives that creates will drive other forms of corrupting sport that evade the provisions of this bill."
