A new community beat team is being rolled out in Henderson in West Auckland as new data shows another reduction in overall victims of violent crime.
The latest New Zealand Crime and Victims Survey (NZCVS) data show that in the 12 months to May, there were 156,000 victims of violent crime, which includes sexual assault, non-sexual physical assault and robbery.
There were 1000 fewer victims than the 12 months to February update and 29,000 fewer victims than in the 12 months to October 2023, just before the Government came to power.
The Government has a target to reduce the number of victims of violent crime by 20,000 by 2029 compared with the October 2023 baseline of 185,000. These latest figures show that target continues to be exceeded.
There were 41,000 victims of family violence and 115,000 victims of non-family violence. This is a reduction of 6000 victims of family violence compared to the February 2025 figures, but 800 more non-family violence victims.
“When compared to October 2023, there were 3000 fewer victims of family violence (8% decrease) and 40,000 fewer victims of non-family violence (26% decrease),” the NZCVS said.
However, sexual assault victims numbers have increased by 3000 between February and May.
“This increase means that the number of victims of sexual assault was above the baseline number. There were 2000 more victims of sexual assault (3% increase) between October 2023 (76,000 victims) and May 2025.”
Non-sexual assaults and robberies have declined since June 2024.
While the number of violent crime victims in Auckland increased from October 2023 and June 2024, it has fallen since then.
“There were 5000 fewer victims of violent offences (9% decrease) in Auckland in May 2025 (46,000), compared to February 2025 (50,000). Compared to October 2023 (62,000), there were 16,000 fewer victims (26% decrease).
“In other regions, the trends since the peak in June 2024, have not been as consistent as in Auckland. For example, Canterbury saw a large decrease in the number of victims between October 2024 and February 2025. However, in May 2025, it was the region with the largest increase of victims.
“In May 2025, there were 28,000 victims of violent crimes in Canterbury. This was 8000 more victims (43% increase) than February 2025 (20,000 victims) and 4000 more victims (15% increase) than October 2023 (24,000 victims).”
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith highlighted there were 4000 fewer Māori victims than in February, “a 9% decrease on the last update”.
“Māori are disproportionately more likely to be the victims of crime, so this is another positive step in the right direction,” Goldsmith said.
While the number of Pākehā victims has risen 9000 compared to February, there has been a large decrease for victims of other ethnicities. There were 9000 fewer of these victims than in February.
The number of victims is down in May across the three ethnic groups compared with October 2023.
The minister said the data were volatile and there was more work to do to keep the numbers down, adding that there were still 156,000 victims too many.
Goldsmith said the Government wanted to bed in progress and wanted to stay under the target.
“We haven’t set a new target yet. It’s nice to actually achieve a target first and hold it and then we will keep pressing down,” he said.
He said the Government was concerned about the sexual assault figures and society “still have a massive issue with sexual violence”.
“That is why we are very determined to send a clear message. That is why are bringing in the stalking legislation that we are doing. That is why we have changed the rules to end permanent name suppression for serious sexual offenders. But there is a lot more work to do.”
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the Government’s work to crack down on gangs had helped bring down violent crime, as had increased visibility by police.
Alongside the latest statistics, the Government also announced Henderson will be the home of the newest community beat squad.
Over the past year, 63 beat officers have been rolled out in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Rotorua and New Plymouth.
The Henderson team of seven will take that number to 70 when they begin in the next few weeks.
“Lifting the presence of police officers in our communities is one of this Government’s law-and-order priorities,” Police Minister Mark Mitchell said.
“Having police visible out on our streets goes a long way to deterring crime and ensuring the public are and feel safe.”
Mitchell said that from August 2024 to the end of July 2025, beat teams in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch racked up 16,498 foot patrol hours. That compares with 7749 in the previous year, he said.
“With the six, soon to be seven, beat teams, as well as Retail Crime Units or operations now running across most of the country’s police districts, we will continue to see this highly visible police presence having an impact.”
Waitematā West Area Commander Simon Walker said the police had been working on strengthening their presence around Henderson businesses and public spaces for some time.
“Our team has been selected and are now preparing for their first day on the beat. Police will be sharing more information with the community very shortly around the launch of the Henderson Beat Team.”
A Curia poll commissioned this year by the Taxpayers’ Union found 66% of New Zealanders felt “more safe” seeing police officers on beat patrols, with just 10% feeling less safe and 20% feeling no difference. The rest were unsure.
That followed remarks from Wellington Central MP Tamatha Paul, who claimed her constituents didn’t want to see officers “everywhere” and that for some people “it makes them feel less safe”, arguing that their presence suggests “you might not be safe there”.
Jamie Ensor is a political reporter in the NZ Herald press gallery team based at Parliament. He was previously a TV reporter and digital producer in the Newshub press gallery office. In 2025, he was a finalist for Political Journalist of the Year at the Voyager Media Awards.