Ministerial Advisory Group hit by series of resignations

The Ministerial Advisory Group (MAG) for victims of retail crime, established in July 2024, has seen three of its five members resign in recent weeks. The group is chaired by Sunny Kaushal, with Hamilton liquor retailer Ash Parmar now the only other remaining member.

Retail NZ chief executive Carolyn Young was among those who stepped down, telling 1News she resigned after deciding she could no longer work alongside Kaushal.

“It’s fair to say it’s been a really difficult environment for me, and I’ve had personal attacks that have come in from both Sunny and some wider groups he’s associated with and that’s made it really difficult and untenable really to stay,” she told 1News in a statement.

In response, Kaushal said the difference of opinion between the two was “well known”.

“I’ve always appreciated her perspective, and I wish her well,” he told The Indian Weekender.

Kaushal added that the recent resignations reflected routine leadership changes.

“These changes reflect normal leadership movement in any organization. Members hold other senior roles, and when business demands increase, or people step into new appointments, they sometimes need to step back from external commitments,” Kaushal told The Indian Weekender.

The advisory group was formed to engage with victims, workers, business owners, retail experts and advocacy groups, and to provide the Government with specific proposals to address what were described as “urgent challenges” in retail crime.

In a statement Young also told 1News the advisory group lacked a strategic plan and became dominated by Kaushal’s personal proposals.

“The ideas put forward are Sunny’s ideas,” she told 1News.
“They’re not new, and I don’t think they’re widely supported. We were doing isolated pieces of work without any foundation for what we wanted to achieve.”

However, Kaushal said the timing of the resignations coincided with career changes for other members.

“Michael Bell has taken on additional responsibilities within his business, and Lindsay Rowles has moved on from Foodstuffs following his appointment as CEO of Mitre 10. These are positive developments, not a reflection on the MAG,” he said.

Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith confirmed, as reported by 1News, that other advisory board members had also left. According to 1News, Goldsmith said the group had been “incredibly busy” over the past 12 months developing detailed policy proposals, including around wider citizens’ arrest powers and a shoplifting infringement regime.

1News also reported that Young said while Kaushal’s input was important, “I don’t know that he’s the right person.”

Looking ahead, Kaushal told The Indian Weekender that supporting retailers to make submissions to the Select Committee on the Crimes Bill was a key focus, noting retailers were seeking greater police powers to deal with antisocial behaviour in city centres.

Kaushal said he was “disappointed” by what he described as attempts to “distract” from the group’s work.

“That’s their choice. I’m focused on delivering results for safer communities and businesses in New Zealand,” he said.