National promises stricter rules on sexual consent

<p>National is promising to modernise laws on sexual consent, saying there must be consent before sex every time, rather than assuming it has been given.</p> <p>The party says if it is re-elected, it will ensure that consent is actively given, meaning there must be a "yes" rather than the absence of a "no".</p> <p>Both Labour and Greens have called out the National party for walking away from cross party support on the issue.</p> <p>Justice spokesperson Paul Goldsmith said the "yes" could be communicated by words or actions and that silence was not consent.</p> <p>"Unlike other jurisdictions we normally compare ourselves with, New Zealand law does not define what consent is.