Samasoni Olo loses licence after multiple convictions trigger automatic ban

A New Zealand security guard has lost his licence to work in the industry after multiple criminal convictions triggered automatic disqualification under the law.

In a decision released in April 2026, the Private Security Personnel Licensing Authority cancelled Samasoni Olo’s Certificate of Approval (COA), ruling he was no longer eligible to remain in the security sector.

Olo had been granted his security licence in 2022, but his position changed following a series of convictions that directly breached the legal standards required to hold a COA.

Police brought the complaint after Olo was convicted of common assault, an offence classified under New Zealand law as a violent offence.

That alone was enough to trigger disqualification.

However, the decision also confirms Olo had a prior 2024 conviction for an offence of dishonesty, meaning he had accumulated multiple disqualifying convictions within a short period of time.

Under the Private Security Personnel and Private Investigators Act 2010, both violence and dishonesty offences are treated as serious breaches of the character requirements expected of licensed security workers.

The law is clear — where disqualifying convictions exist, cancellation is not discretionary.

It is mandatory.

Despite the seriousness of the matter, Olo did not attend the hearing and did not provide any written response to the complaint or explanation for his conduct.

With no evidence presented to challenge the Police application, the Authority found he was no longer suitable to be a responsible security employee.

His licence has now been cancelled effective immediately, and he has been ordered to return his security identification within seven days. Failure to comply may result in further penalties under the Act.

This case reflects the strict legal framework governing New Zealand’s private security industry, where character and conduct are central to maintaining a licence. The ongoing work of New Zealand Police in identifying and progressing such matters, alongside the oversight of the Private Security Personnel Licensing Authority, continues to play a critical role in enforcing standards, protecting the public, and removing individuals who no longer meet the legal requirements to operate within the industry. https://www.justice.govt.nz/assets/Documents/Decisions/2026-NZPSPLA-025.pdf