King 'deluded' to blame violence on moon - Nats

Simon Power

Annette King is deluded to blame the sun and the moon for the spate of crime in New Zealand over the past month, National's law and order spokesman said today.

Speaking at the National Party's three-day caucus retreat in Rotorua, Simon Power said Labour was clearly "in denial" over youth crime after the Herald today reported Annette King as blaming the recent full moon and long, hot summer for the crime spree which has resulted in ten homicides over January.

Ms King said the hot summer and recent full moon were well-documented as factors in the escalation of violence, as well as family and financial stresses of the Christmas period.

Yesterday, Mr Power hit out at Ms King's statement, saying it had nine years to stamp out crime but had resorted to blaming the weather.

He also criticised Labour's response to National's calls for action on youth crime - part of which had been that the youth criminals were "the children of the Mother of all Budgets" - a reference to National's former finance minister Ruth Richardson's controversial welfare-cutting 1991 Budget.

"The Government is in complete denial over this issue of youth crime," Mr Power said.

"Earlier this week, the government blamed a Budget which is 16 years old, and now this morning, the Minister of Police has blamed the sun and moon for the youth crime rate in Auckland.

It beggars belief that someone with that level of experience could say something so ridiculous."

The issue of youth crime has been a battle ground between the two main parties in recent days after John Key released key parts of the party's youth justice policy on Tuesday, including stronger measures against youth offenders, including electronic anklets if they breach initial supervision orders, and year-long supervision courses, including a three-month boot camp.

Labour responded by saying National's new policy was "Labour Party policy wrapped up in blue ribbon" and that much of what Mr Key revealed was already in place in the Youth Court.

However, Mr Power criticised the government for lack of action in putting its policies into play.

"Remember last year when Mr Key said instant protection orders for people in situations of domestic violence.

"The Government assured the country then that that work was under way. We've still heard nothing on that front.

"So I'm getting pretty sick of hearing excuses which indicate a state of complete denial."

He said it was possible stresses, including financial stress, over the Christmas period might play a role in higher levels of violence, "but I'm still unable to reconcile that with the role Annette King thinks the sun and moon plays in crime rates."

Mr Power said more of the National Party's justice and corrections policy had been put in Mr Key's hands and was awaiting release.

The caucus spent the morning discussing economic and fiscal policy, followed by housing affordability options.

After a lunch break, MPs will canvas welfare issues and how it can maximise its vote among overseas voters.

Mr Key is expected to make a policy announcement this afternoon, but has been tight-lipped on what it is.