Ministerial Advisory Group Faces Resignations Amid Leadership Struggles

The Ministerial Advisory Group (MAG), established in July 2024 to address the challenges of retail crime, has recently experienced a significant turnover, with three of its five members resigning in quick succession. Currently, the group is chaired by Sunny Kaushal, alongside Ash Parmar, a liquor retailer based in Hamilton, who remains as the sole other member.

The resignations include Carolyn Young, the chief executive of Retail NZ. Young cited a deteriorating working environment as her reason for stepping down, stating she could no longer collaborate effectively with Kaushal. In an interview with 1News, she described her experience as “really difficult” and mentioned facing personal attacks from both Kaushal and associated groups.

In response, Kaushal acknowledged the well-documented differences between him and Young and expressed his appreciation for her contributions. He emphasized that such departures are typical in leadership roles. “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,” he commented to The Indian Weekender.

Challenges and Strategic Direction

The MAG was formed to engage with various stakeholders, including victims, workers, and retail experts, to provide the government with actionable proposals to combat retail crime. However, Young was critical of the group’s strategic direction, asserting that it lacked a cohesive plan and had become overly focused on Kaushal’s personal proposals. “The ideas put forward are Sunny’s ideas. 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,” she stated.

Kaushal countered her claims, asserting that the timing of the resignations coincided with career commitments of other members. He pointed out that Michael Bell had taken on additional responsibilities within his business, and Lindsay Rowles had transitioned from Foodstuffs to become the CEO of Mitre 10. “These are positive developments, not a reflection on the MAG,” he added.

Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith confirmed that other members had also left the advisory group, noting that it had been “incredibly busy” over the past year in developing detailed policy proposals. These proposals include discussions around expanding citizens’ arrest powers and establishing a framework for shoplifting infringements.

Looking ahead, Kaushal remains focused on supporting retailers in making submissions to the Select Committee on the Crimes Bill. He noted that retailers are advocating for enhanced police powers to effectively manage antisocial behavior in urban centers. Expressing disappointment over the recent resignations, he stated, “I’m focused on delivering results for safer communities and businesses in New Zealand.”

As the Ministerial Advisory Group navigates these leadership changes, the future direction of its initiatives remains uncertain, highlighting the challenges faced in addressing the urgent issues surrounding retail crime.