Source: Radio New Zealand
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is taking questions after the announcement of a new crime figures.
It comes as the latest New Zealand Crime and Victims Survey reported 49,000 fewer victims of violent crime in the year to October 2025 than two years previously.
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith put this down to the coalition’s approach to law and order and the near doubling of police foot patrols.
“Since day one, we’ve been working tirelessly to restore real consequences for crime, and to place victims back at the centre of the justice system,” he said.
“We have reformed the sentencing regime so those who cause the most harm are imprisoned for longer, given Police effective tools to deal with gangs, stopped taxpayer funding for the proliferation of cultural reports, made stalking an illegal and jailable offence, given victims of sexual assault the power to determine if offenders are granted name suppression, restored Three Strikes, and much more.”
Police Minister Mark Mitchell said higher police visibility in communities was helping deter crime and keep criminals off the streets.
“Our investment into the frontline has seen 12 new and expanded beat teams stood up nationwide, including the launch of a beat team in Hamilton this week.
“Our beat officers do an outstanding job at keeping the public, businesses and retailers safe. We know there is a lot more to do but these results show we are heading in the right direction.”
Goldsmith said while the government was tracking ahead on its violent crime reduction target it still had more work to do.
“This is going to be another busy year. We just announced plans to provide police with the power to issue move-on orders to deal with disorderly behaviour.
“Our Crimes Amendment Bill is making its way through the house, and legislation to strengthen trespass laws will soon be introduced.”
Children’s Minister Karen Chhour said Oranga Tamariki figures showed there had been a 22 per cent drop in serious repeat youth offending compared with when the Government came into office.
“This is well ahead of our target of a 15 per cent drop before 2030,” she said.
“We promised to fix what matters to New Zealanders. Ram raids are down 85 per cent. Kiwis are no longer being expected to live in fear that their cars have been stolen and used by young offenders in a ram raid of our local small businesses.
“Young offenders are avoiding re-offending because they know Courts, Oranga Tamariki and Police are working together more closely. They know now that their actions will have consequences.”
The livestream is due to start about 1.30pm and will be at the top of this page.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
