Under National crime is out of control
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- Date published:
9:07 am, September 17th, 2024 - 35 comments
Categories: Christopher Luxon, crime, making shit up, mark mitchell, Media, Social issues, spin, you couldn't make this shit up -
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National must be feeling the pressure.
Last year every time a crime was committed they blamed Labour. Alleged soft on crime policies, trying to address the fiscal and moral failure that is our penal system, and repealing stunts such as the three trikes law were campaign opportunities for National to blame the soft lefties.
Armed with dodgy statistics they railed against Labour and promised to restore law and order, back the police and tackle the gangs, combat youth offending, put 300 more officers on the beat and provide real consequences for crime. The phrase “soft on crime” was used that often you would be forgiven to think that National had a trademark on it.
How are they going in their efforts to restore law and order?
Not very well.
There has been a spate of recent homicides. There is a real feeling there has been a significant spike in crime caused by harsh economic conditions.
And there is a real feeling that National is more interested in the PR opportunities provided by crime than actually doing something about it.
The past 24 hours provides a good insight into how the Government works.
Yesterday morning National lauded a reduction of the crime rate in downtown Auckland. There was a Beehive Press release and a walkabout and a press conference from the Auckland Police Station.
From the Beehive Press Release:
“We’re backing Police with additional powers and resources to get offenders off our streets. We’re investing in frontline police with an additional 500 Officers to enable increased police visibility in our main centres and communities. For Auckland CBD this has seen an additional 21 beat staff deployed from July this year, bringing the total to 51,” says Mr Mitchell.
Police data shows that from 1 January to 31 July this year, there was a 22 per cent reduction in serious assaults within the Auckland CBD compared with the same period last year, and an 18 per cent reduction in serious assaults resulting in injury.
“This data shows that we are turning a corner, and that a whole of system co-ordinated approach is working to make Auckland a safe city and one we can be proud to showcase as a gateway to New Zealand for overseas visitors.
The probem with this is that it is doubtful that the reduction is related to the increase in police numbers. The additional police were put into place in July, which is at the end of the period mentioned.
Of even more concern is that crime rates in the city increased by 7% over the same period.
I get the strong feeling that the problem has been shifted, not addressed.
And how about this description of what is happening in the country which could let you justifiably claim that crime is getting out of control.
Today’s press conference followed the release of national retail crime data that showed there had been 8207 more theft and related offences such as shoplifting, 66 more cases of acts intended to cause injury like assaults and 17 more cases of sexual assaults and related offences in the first five months of 2024 compared to the same period last year – a 17% increase.
Over the five months, shoplifting and theft spiked to 49,505 cases, up from 41,298 last year, and 1670 assault cases were attended by police, an increase from 1604.
There was also a total of 106 sexual assaults, up from 89, according to the data.
The data painted an unflattering picture of the Government’s key policy pledge to crack down on retail crime with the introduction of new police initiatives to curb violence and anti-social behaviour.
Then in the afternoon the reason for the walk about and the lauding of a limited change in statistics in one particular area became clear.
The Government’s public service target on crime figures were released and the target has clearly not been met.
The aim is to reduce the number of victims of violent crime by 20,000 people by 2030 but the number had increased by 30,000 since October last year.
Ouch.
Get the feeling the good news early event was designed to try and divert attention from the substantial increase in crime?
To further divert attention the Government announced that it would introduce legislation this week to make changes to the Sentencing Act.
From Radio New Zealand:
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today announced changes to the Sentencing Act after the weekly Cabinet meeting.
The reforms included a limit on how much and how frequently judges can discount sentences.
Minister of Justice Paul Goldsmith said the changes meant criminals would “face real consequences for crime and victims are prioritised”.
There had been a “concerning trend” in recent years where courts had imposed fewer and shorter prison sentences, he said.
“Public confidence in the ability of our sentencing system to deter and denounce offending has diminished.
“These changes will help ensure there are 20,000 fewer victims of violent crime by 2029, alongside reducing serious repeat youth offending by 15 per cent.”
Changes will include capping maximum sentence discounts that a Judge can order, preventing repeat discounts for youth and remorse, introducting a new aggravating factor to address offences against sole charge workers, encouraging the use of cumulative sentences for offences commiteed while on bail, in custody or parole, introducing a sliding scame of discounts for guilty pleas depending on what stage the guilty plea was entered. They have been announced many times.
I wonder if Crown Counsel are working overtime getting the bill ready so that National can attempt to divert attention from the surge in number of victims of crimes.
And I wish they would just let Judges get on with their job. Judges are highly trained and compassionate professionals. They do not need to have layer upon layer of these tweaks being put on the exercise of their discretion. They just need to be able to get on with their job of dispensing Justice.
Jenna Lynch did not hold back.
Did you get that?
The measure that National uses showed victim numbers to be static under Labour’s reign despite National’s claim that crime was out of control under Labour’s watch. It also shows a recent increase in the numbers during the time that National is in control. And Labour somehow was the party that was soft on crime.
Christopher Luxon saying that he was not interested in “petty politics” really rankles. He has built his career out of misusing data, scratching itches and misleading us while at the same time having no vision for a better New Zealand.
This is deeply cynical politics. Celebrating a limited change in local crime statistics on the same day that a significant increase in the number of victims was being announced and then saying you are not interested in petty politics when your whole career is based on petty politics is as cynical as you can get.
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Time has run out for Nicola Willis who has failed to keep her promise to deliver a solution to replace the Interislander ferries by today. ...6 days ago
- Release: Labour supports marches for better health
Labour supports Buller and Dunedin communities who are marching today and calling on the Government to act urgently to fix the health crisis. ...6 days ago
- Raising speed limits will cost our communities
The Government’s move to disregard all evidence and increase speed limits will result in serious harm. ...1 week ago
- Greens stand in solidarity with Buller community
The Green Party stands in solidarity with the Buller community in its silent protest for better healthcare. ...1 week ago
- Release: Proposed job losses devastating for Timaru
News that the Smithfield meatworks could close is devastating for the hundreds of people who work there, Timaru and the wider region. ...1 week ago
- Release: Question mark over financial sustainability of Polytechs
The Government is taking tertiary education down a worrying path with new reporting finding that fourteen of the country’s sixteen polytechnics couldn’t survive on their own,” Labour’s tertiary education spokesperson Dr Deborah Russell says. ...1 week ago
- TPM issues warning to Govt: Back down or prepare for the wrath of the million Māori
Today the government announced a $30m cut to Te Ahu o Te Reo Māori- a programme that develops te reo Māori among our kaiako. “This announcement is just the latest in an onslaught of attacks on te iwi Māori,” said Te Pāti Māori Co-Leader Rawiri Waititi. ...1 week ago
- Govt set to break promise on Dunedin Hospital
The Green Party is calling on the Government to honour its promise to Dunedin and build its new hospital to full capacity. ...1 week ago
- Release: Dunedin Hospital d-listed by Government
The non-announcement in Dunedin today had Ministers leaving broken promises and a likely severely diluted hospital build in their wake. ...1 week ago
- Release: Labour welcomes UAE trade deal
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) signed today with the United Arab Emirates (UAE). ...1 week ago
- Release: Hundreds more jobs cuts on housing frontline
The Government has shown its true intentions for the public service and economy – it’s not to get more public servants back to the office, it’s more job losses. ...1 week ago
- Release: Govt not addressing health workforce crisis
The National Government is hiding the gaps in the health workforce from New Zealanders, by not producing a full workforce plan nearly a year into their tenure. ...1 week ago
- Release: Government cuts fair pay for bus drivers
The Government has cut funding for bus drivers to get paid fairly for the work they do, Labour transport spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...1 week ago
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- Landlord govt finds new way to undermine public housing
Proposed cuts to Kāinga Ora reflect a failure to fully commit to fixing the housing crisis. ...2 weeks ago
- Crown should prove their rights to Foreshore & Seabed – Te Pāti Māori
Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Justice, Tākuta Ferris, has hit out at the Government, demanding the Crown prove its rights to the foreshore, following the Marine and Coastal Area Amendment Bill, passing its first reading. "Māori rights to the foreshore pre-exist the Declaration of Independence, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and ...2 weeks ago
- NZ must urgently help whanau in Lebanon
The Government must immediately help evacuate New Zealanders and Lebanese whanau caught up in the current conflict unfolding across south Lebanon. ...2 weeks ago
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- Release: Gun lobby bill removes regulation at ranges
Gun lobbyist Nicole McKee and her conflict of interest has struck again, this time removing safety regulations from shooting clubs and ranges in New Zealand. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Govt forgetting the 6000 jobs they’ve cut
The real problem in the public sector is ongoing job losses and cuts to the front line. ...2 weeks ago
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- Release: Ministers oblivious to cuts’ effect on families
The National Government is oblivious to the impact cuts to services will have on New Zealanders who are doing the hard yards caring for mentally ill family members. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Public service set up to fail under National
Nicola Willis has set up the public service to fail to pay for reckless tax cuts for landlords and the tobacco industry. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Coalition cooking up costly RMA replacement
National continues to dismantle environmental protections in the interests of rushing through unsustainable development that will ultimately cost communities. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: National red-faced as benefit numbers skyrocket
The economy has stagnated and the National Government is having to face the consequences of its atrocious lawmaking, as beneficiary numbers skyrocket past even Treasury’s predictions. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: National allocating police officers not hired yet
There are 104 fewer police officers now than there were when National came into Government. ...2 weeks ago
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Today’s GDP figures combined with the injustice of our tax system will mean more pain for our lowest-income households while those at the top remain relatively unscathed. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: No growth under National, just cuts
The National Government’s decisions have hindered, not helped the economy. ...2 weeks ago
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New climate projections from NIWA underscore how urgently climate action is needed. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: More job losses as Government fails on manufacturing
The Government is failing the manufacturing sector with no plan for its future. ...3 weeks ago
- Ruakākā recreation centre opened
A new multi-purpose recreation centre will provide a valuable wellbeing hub for residents and visitors to Ruakākā in Northland, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. The Ruakākā Recreation Centre, officially opened today, includes separate areas for a gymnasium, a community health space and meeting rooms made possible with support of ...1 day ago - Extra Government support for farmers and growers in Southland and parts of Otago
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay, and Rural Communities Minister Mark Patterson announced up to $50,000 in additional Government support for farmers and growers across Southland and parts of Otago as challenging spring weather conditions have been classified a medium-scale adverse event. “The relentless wet weather has been tough on farmers and ...2 days ago
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Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay today welcomed a move by the European Commission to delay the implementation of the European Union’s Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) by 12 months, describing the proposal as a pragmatic step that will provide much-needed certainty for New Zealand exporters and ensure over $200 million in ...2 days ago
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The Government is taking decisive action in response to the Ministerial Inquiry into School Property, which concludes the way school property is delivered is not fit for purpose. “The school property portfolio is worth $30 billion, and it’s critically important it’s managed properly. This Government is taking a series of immediate actions ...2 days ago
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The Government has announced a new support programme for the residential construction market while the economy recovers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop and Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk say. “We know the residential development sector is vulnerable to economic downturns. The lead time for building houses is typically 18 ...2 days ago
- New appointment to the EPA board
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The Government has approved a $226.2 million package of resilience improvement projects for state highways and local roads across the country that will reduce the impact of severe weather events and create a more resilient and efficient road network, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Our Government is committed to delivering ...2 days ago
- Doubling road rehabilitation this summer to prevent potholes
Kiwis will see fewer potholes on our roads with road rehabilitation set to more than double through the summer road maintenance programme to ensure that our roads are maintained to a safe and reliable standard, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Increasing productivity to help rebuild our economy is a key ...2 days ago
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The latest 2023 Census results released today further highlight New Zealand’s growing ethnic and cultural diversity, says Ethnic Communities Minister Melissa Lee. “Today’s census results are further evidence of the increasingly diverse nature of our population. It’s something that should be celebrated and also serve as a reminder of the ...3 days ago
- FamilyBoost payments make ECE more affordable
Parents and caregivers are now able to claim for FamilyBoost, which provides low-to-middle-income families with young children payments to help them meet early childhood education (ECE) costs. “FamilyBoost is one of the ways we are supporting families with young children who are struggling with the cost of living, by helping ...3 days ago
- South Pacific defence meeting fosters collaboration
This week’s South Pacific Defence Ministers’ Meeting (SPDMM) has concluded with a renewed commitment to regional security of all types, Defence Minister Judith Collins says. Defence Ministers and senior civilian and military officials from Australia, Chile, Fiji, France, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Tonga gathered in Auckland to discuss defence and security cooperation in the ...3 days ago
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- Speech to the Minerals West Coast Forum
Introduction Good morning! What a pleasure to be back in the stunning West Coast at one of my favourite events in the calendar. Every time I come back here, I’m reminded of the Coast’s natural beauty, valuable resources, and great people. Yet, every time I come back here, I’m also ...3 days ago
- Positive progress on Government health targets
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti welcomes new data from Health New Zealand, saying it demonstrates encouraging progress against the Government’s health targets. Health New Zealand’s quarterly report for the quarter to 30 June will be used as the baseline for reporting against the Government’s five health targets, which came into ...3 days ago
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- Progressing remote building inspections
The Government is progressing plans to increase the use of remote inspections to make the building and consenting process more efficient and affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “We know that the building and construction sector suffers from a lack of innovation. According to a recent report, productivity ...4 days ago
- PPTA accepts charter schools
Associate Education Minister David Seymour welcomes the PPTA putting a proposal to members at its annual conference to change its constitution and allow membership of teachers who work in charter schools. “The PPTA has had a come to Jesus moment on charter schools. This is a major departure from the ...4 days ago
- New TAIC Chief Commissioner appointed
David Clarke has been announced as the Chief Commissioner of the Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC). David Clarke is a barrister specialising in corporate and commercial law and he has over 20 years experience in governance roles in commercial, public and charitable sectors. He also is a current TAIC Commissioner. ...5 days ago
- Government secures market access for blueberries to Korea
The Government has secured market access for New Zealand blueberries to Korea, unlocking an estimated $5 million in annual export opportunities for Kiwi growers Minister for Trade and Agriculture Todd McClay today announced. “This is a win for our exporters and builds on our successful removal of $190 million in ...5 days ago
- South Pacific Defence Ministers meet in Auckland
Partnership and looking to the future are key themes as Defence Ministers from across the South Pacific discuss regional security challenges in Auckland today, Defence Minister Judith Collins says. The South Pacific Defence Ministers’ Meeting (SPDMM) brings together Defence Ministers, Chiefs of Defence and Secretaries of Defence from New Zealand, ...5 days ago
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Health Minister Dr Shane Reti today opened the refurbished Children’s Unit at Rotorua Hospital, which will provide young patients and their families in the Lakes District with a safe, comfortable and private space to receive care. “The opening of this unit is a significant milestone in our commitment to improving ...5 days ago
- Minor variations no longer major problem
It is now easier to make small changes to building plans without having to apply for a building consent amendment, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Previously builders who wanted to make a minor change, for example substituting one type of product for another, or changing the layout of ...5 days ago
- New diplomatic appointments
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A new Contaminated Sites and Vulnerable Landfills Fund will help councils and landowners clean up historic landfills and other contaminated sites that are vulnerable to the effects of severe weather, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds says. "This $30 million fund, part of our Q4 Action Plan, increases the Government’s investment in ...5 days ago
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Associate Health Minister with responsibility for Pharmac David Seymour has welcomed the increased availability of medicines for Kiwis resulting from the Government’s increased investment in Pharmac. “Pharmac operates independently, but it must work within the budget constraints set by the Government,” says Mr Seymour. “When our Government assumed office, New ...5 days ago
- Foreign Minister completes successful week of international engagements
Foreign Minister Winston Peters today wrapped up a week of high-level engagements at the United Nations in New York and in Papeete, French Polynesia. “Our visit to New York was about demonstrating New Zealand’s unwavering support for an international system based on rules and respect for the UN Charter, as ...6 days ago
- Final 2024 Action Plan focused on infrastructure
The Government’s Quarter Four (Q4) Action Plan will be focused on making it easier and faster to build infrastructure in New Zealand as part of its wider plan to rebuild the economy, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says. “My Government has been working at pace to get the country back on ...6 days ago
- Four new laws to tackle crime passed in Q3
New Zealanders will be safer as a result of the Government’s crackdown on crime which includes tougher laws for offenders and gangs delivered as part of the Quarter Three (Q3) Action Plan, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says. “I’m proud to say we have delivered on 39 of the 40 actions ...6 days ago
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The Government is backing a new world-leading programme set to boost vineyard productivity and inject an additional $295 million into New Zealand’s economy by 2045, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay today announced. The Next Generation Viticulture programme will transform traditional vineyard systems, increasing profitability by $22,060 per hectare by 2045 without ...6 days ago
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Over 90 per cent of submissions have expressed broad support for a New Zealand minerals strategy, indicating a strong appetite for a considered, enduring approach to minerals development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. A summary of the 102 submissions on the draft strategy has been published today by the Ministry ...6 days ago
- Snapper catch limits up, orange roughy down
Catch limits for several fisheries will be increased following a review that shows stocks of those species are healthy and abundant. The changes are being made as part of Fisheries New Zealand’s biannual sustainability review, which considers catch limits and management settings across New Zealand’s fisheries. “Scientific evidence and information ...1 week ago
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The Government is investigating options for a major reform of the building consent system to improve efficiency and consistency across New Zealand, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “New Zealand has some of the least affordable housing in the world, which has dire social and economic implications. At the heart ...1 week ago
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The Government has announced that an initial cost-benefit analysis of establishing a third medical school based at the University of Waikato has been completed and has been found to provide confidence for the project to progress to the next stage. Minister of Health Dr Shane Reti says the proposal will ...1 week ago
- Government delivers sensible approach to speed limits
The Government’s new speed limit rule has today been signed to reverse Labour’s blanket speed limit reductions and enable Kiwis to get to where they want to go quickly and safely, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Reverse Labour’s blanket speed limit reductions on local streets, arterial roads, and state highways ...1 week ago
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Climate Change Minister Simon Watts is travelling to Fiji on Monday to attend a Ministerial Meeting (Talanoa) with Pacific Island Countries, Australia, and New Zealand. “Attending the Talanoa will reinforce New Zealand’s commitment to supporting climate resilience in the Pacific and advancing action in the areas of climate change,” Mr ...1 week ago
- Human rights recommendations accepted
The Government is accepting the majority of human rights recommendations received at the fourth Universal Period Review in Geneva, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “We have considered all 259 recommendations from the United Nations. We are supporting 168 and partially supporting 12 of these recommendations. “Recommendations related to women’s rights, ...1 week ago
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The Government is continuing to move at pace on the Northland Expressway, with significant geotechnical investigations now underway for phase one from Warkworth to Te Hana, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “With thousands of motorists and freight travelling through Northland, we’re focused on delivering for this region to grow our economy. ...1 week ago
- An Ode to .. Du Val
Temporary SetbackLord Kenyon and Lady Charlotte walk down the rampOf their magenta and lime green hot air balloon Hubris,In matching Polar Bear fur coats, wraparound shadesEncrusted with diamonds, and a hundredweightOf subtle and discreet chunky gold accessories.At the bottom of the ramp, a squad of burly Bailiffs wait.“What ho, good ...7 hours ago - Health NZ deputy commissioners being paid $200k a year in fees
The three deputy commissioners are trying to turn the public health system around. ...8 hours ago - What’s next for Lebanon and the Middle East?
A new war in Lebanon has begun, but a dual focus on sub- and trans-national dynamics is required to understand what might come next in the Middle East.Starting with the trans-national matters. On ‘April Fools Day’ this year a region-wide game of cat and mouse began between Israeli and Iranian ...9 hours ago
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MONDAYA cold wind came down from the mountain range of the Sierra Thorndons and swept through the empty main street of Labour City.It had been the exact same weather for over a year.A few old-timers remembered a time of golden weather. Sometimes they thought they might only have dreamt it ...1 day ago
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The award-winning broadcaster and journalist looks back on his life in television, featuring early morning All Blacks games, his love for The Repair Shop and why he’s turning into his parents. John Campbell doesn’t remember his first ever appearance on television. “Funny, eh?” the broadcaster chuckles over the phone. All ...1 day ago
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Treasury’s chief economic adviser, Dominick Stephens, believes the government’s tax, health and pension settings are untenable in the long term. Something’s got to give, he tells Bernard Hickey on The Spinoff’s economics podcast When the Facts Change. New Zealand’s ageing population is about to give the government’s finances a ...1 day ago
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Anna Rawhiti-Connell reflects on the week that was. As a teenager in the mid to late 90s, I vividly remember a statistical “urban legend” doing the rounds. “15% of the population is gay, so… [insert number based on how many people were in the classroom] must be gay.” I have ...1 day ago
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kerry Brown, Professor of Employment and Industry, School of Business and Law, Edith Cowan University NT_Studio/Shutterstock Should young people be paid less than their older counterparts, even if they’re working the same job? Whether you think it’s fair or not, it’s ...2 days ago - Rocky Road: The Rock In The Hill A Quarry Really, Really Wants To Get Out
A quarry has tried repeatedly to crack a permanent protection to get more rock out of a mountain. Now, it's turning to the 'Fast-track' law. ...2 days ago - New video shows sharks making an easy meal of spiky sea urchins, shedding light on an undersea myste...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jeremy Day, PhD researcher, University of Newcastle Author provided Long-spined sea urchins have emerged as an environmental issue off Australia’s far south coast. Native to temperate waters around New South Wales, the urchins have expanded their range south as oceans warm. ...2 days ago
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People in our community are worried about their property and possessions as the water rises, and for this we raise the alarm. This is what climate change looks like - more frequent and severe weather, storms, and flooding,” said spokesperson Annabel ...2 days ago
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Bea Bruske, president of the Canadian Labour Congress, told the Ministers that ‘your lack of support for the workers of the PPTA who provide so much to their students shows a lack of leadership on your part. ...2 days ago
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"Schools were consistently critical of a lack of transparency and unclear prioritisation of projects," a ministerial inquiry has found. ...2 days ago
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Graham, Associate Professor in Digital Media, Queensland University of Technology AlexandraPopova/Shutterstock For almost a decade, researchers have been gathering evidence that the social media platform Facebook disproportionately amplifies low-quality content and misinformation. So it was something of a surprise ...2 days ago
And they still are. This "government of responsibility" takes great care in taking no responsibility for their actions.
Indeed everything they touch turns to custard. Maybe they would be better off running a custard pie shop.
That probably explains the recent granny puff piece on minister mitchells policing days.
Build empathy…tick.
Excellent article.
Chur enjoyed yours too.
+100….great post Micky….needs to be repeated with updated stats the day after Luxon announces the next election (if his flaky coalition partners haven't already forced him to call it)
Very few Ram Raid now days under National, hardly hear about them these days, Luxon, Mitchell & Goldsmith have done a cracking job sorting this problem out.
Figures have been coming down for a while. Labour's wrap around policies were working.
Just because you are not hearing about ram raids dosen't mean they are not occuring.
Many more bollards and heavy security structures installed in front of vulnerable stores also slowing down ram raiding.
My theory is that it is a crime of choice for recruitment of young people into gangs, and orchestrated by higher-ups. It's a form of intimidation that softens a community for protection payments. If there's fewer ram raids, the trend is being driven by further up the pipeline.
I have wondered the same thing, ie whether doing a ram raid is a condition of being able to join a gang. But that may not be the case given the age of some offenders.
IMO large scale drug importation and sale has expanded irrespective of which political party was in power. The big profit from that illicit activity is too hard for some to resist.
Sarcasm presumably.
More they have grouped them into the "Burglary" category or similar and not a category on its own so they are hidden from the stats.
Prove me wrong.
No retail crime at all under national
Maybe Mitchell should resign. After all he promised …
https://twitter.com/rugbyintel/status/1835789183669137492
If I had ever been stupid enough to take Luxon at his word, I would have assumed that in a Luxon government, a failure to 'deliver' would be terminal for anyone's career.
I wasn't that stupid. It was totally clear during the election that National was so determined to get their far-right economic agenda in place, that they were prepared to lie outrageously about their ability to reduce crime. And that Mitchell would be in a world of pain and obfuscation within 12 months of them winning. How long till Sonny Kaushal, the guy they cynically rolled out at every opportunity, turns on them? What a disgusting bunch of opportunists National is – they deserve every ounce of this humiliation and more.
Sunny has been paid off.
$3.6million or something to chair a crime committee so he and his pals can talk about crime while being funded for it.
Sunny was "grateful" he told Newstalk ZB – when Goldsmith announced the hush job.
The judges need to start actually sentencing people properly and that could help the crime. Because of this bloke Singe, two people are dead. And he gets 12 months home detention.
Auckland CBD shooting: Man who helped supply gun used by Matu Reid in deadly rampage sentenced – NZ Herald
NZ's incarceration rate is one of the highest in the world 173 per 100,000 – higher than Australia, Canada and the UK.
Of course, it's nothing compared to the USA – which has the highest incarceration and some of the most violent and highest crime rates in the world.
People on the right and on NZME like to cherry pick anecdotes, but forget that the real solution is to address root causes.
Sir Peter Gluckman, John Key's Chief Science Advisor, wrote a detailed report explaining this – for example, he found boot camps will only increase crime and worsen outcomes. He noted incarcerating people would only lead to higher crime in the generations.
The real answers are harder and more complex – but they can be tackled with the right will and courage.
Let's face it, it's easy to let Honeywell and other multinational corporations make money off of NZ by helping Luxon and co build their mega prisons, but all experts agree – such moves will only worsen crime and harden it too.
Now – the statistics tell the story – significantly more crimes under National – including violent crime.
By the same measure, no real rise under Labour.
But of course many on the right will just pivot to – and try to emphasise – anecdotes while ignoring the hard work that goes on behind the scenes in justice.
Finally, incarceration costs a lot of money $200,000 per prisoner per year and that will only go up.
Absolutely. They cannot, and will not, ever see that the lack of care at the top of the cliff (help, listening, empathy,wellbeing,love) leads straight down to the bottom. Been proven so many times. Do most of these People really want to go to prison ? So often..their choices …and paths were made for them. IMO this link would be similar around the World, incl NZ
Ahh – it's our judges' fault. Maybe they're a bit 'soft', but who'd be a judge eh Jiminy.
Ngāti Goldsmith managed to squeeze in 'work' twice – he's a piece of work alright.
Our govt – a coalition of myth makers
Still, maybe there'll be fewer Category 1 driving offences thanks to the Hon Simeon 'I feel the need, the need for speed' Brown.
Goldsmith's served his time doing others bidding and now gets to dish it out from high office.
You could put an ACT badge on him and nothing changes like many others as theyre so interchangeable now.
Luxons managing to the strategy not leading a country.
As is the fact Luxon hasn't fronted up to Q&A for nearly a year.
When a National government wants a non-achiever non-entity for any particular ministerial post they always go for Paul Goldsmith.
And he never disappoints them.
Don't forget Simon Watts.
Yeah, let's leave it to the fevered reckons of Judge Jimmy, that respected jurist.
A snap poll on three news last night had about 80% believing crime has not lowered at all.
It is like their health policy (last government more hip and knee ops for their older voters, less focus on endometriosis etc). This time more cancer drugs (middle class people get cancer too) but it reduces capability in other areas less money for staffing of hospitals and making the health reform (IT and support capacity) work and primary health care – they presume their voters have health insurance to continue to access GP services.
Here they re-direct attention to an increased presence in the central city, and cite success, all while other areas are under-resourced.
And their real plan is to imprison more people, admitting they intend to manage the neglected underclass. So 1961 Hunn Report, assimilate a Maori working class and imprison those non compliant to the settler urban order.
https://teara.govt.nz/en/document/3570/the-hunn-report
The thing is, their immigration policy is going to create a much broader underclass to replace the Pakeha middle class and aspirational Maori working class moving over to Oz. By 2050 we will be the England once left behind – a class divide society.
This is an inevitable consequence of an under-funded public sector and a privileged class not paying any CG or estate taxation.
Mitch & Luxton are doing a cracking job sorting out Crime.
A certain "car crushing" Police Minister in a past National Government, was found to have fudged Police Statistics. Guess what? Said Lady is now the Attorney General, and that is how they roll. Fudging scapegoating and cuts to services and rewards for "face".
A 22% reduction in crime rate in Central Auckland may be good news for businesses in Central Auckland and National cheerleader Sonny Kaushal, but doesn't do much for people in other areas who are sick and tired of vandalism, shoplifting, drunken hooliganism, burglary, theft, speed idiots, drug dealers – the list goes on.
When you have done something about this Mr Luxon, THEN you can bang your drum as loud as you like and I will give you credit as well.
There is a lot more to NZ than the Central Auckland CBD.
They apparently imported more police there to get the numbers down. Crime – including violent crime – is up all over the country.
Wondered if the increase of foot policemen in Central Auckland must have been supplied from somewhere else, and that means that somewhere else is at higher risk. Something like robbing Peter to ……..
Mitch and Luxton are doing a great job cleaning up Crime in the CBD.
Criminals will be voting for national 2026. Economic growth going backward, businesses closing and jobs being lost all over the place, but crime going gang busters, a real growth industry under national.