The number of crime victims has fallen in the past year, according to the latest figures published today.
The most recent New Zealand Crime and Victims Survey showed there were 49,000 fewer victims of violent crime in the year to October 2025 than in the two years prior.
Prime Minister Chris Luxon, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Police Minister Mark Mitchell are set to discuss the drop in crime at a press conference in central Auckland.
Goldsmith said the Government has been working to restore real consequences for crime and to put victims at the centre of the justice system.
“We have reformed the sentencing regime so those who cause the most harm are imprisoned for longer,” Goldsmith said. “[We’ve] 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 greater police visibility in communities has helped deter crime.
“It is no coincidence that our back-to-basics approach to policing is having a positive effect on reducing violent crime,” Mitchell said.
“Backing our frontline has seen more police out on the beat, with foot patrols almost doubling since coming into Government.”
The figures showed 136,000 people were victims of crime nationwide in the 12-month period to October 2025, but the Government has planned new measures to try to bring this figure down further.
“We just announced plans to provide police with the power to issue move-on orders to deal with disorderly behaviour,” Goldsmith said.
“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 have shown a 22% fall in serious repeat youth offending compared to when the Government took charge.
“This is well ahead of our target of a 15 per cent drop before 2030,” she said.