Watch: Govt at risk of missing targets for violent crime, student achievement, Christopher Luxon speaks at post-Cabinet press conference
The Government’s is at risk of missing its targeted reduction in violent crime and getting more students at expected curriculum levels.
The Government is today releasing its first quarterly report for its nine targets, including on crime and housing. It is also bringing in tougher sentencing rules to hold offenders to account.
Addressing media at today’s post-Cabinet press conference, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the targets focused resource and accountability.
They are deliberately ambitious and the first report shows they will be challenging to achieve, he said.
There is good progress on reducing people in emergency housing, but one target that is at risk is having 20,000 fewer people being a victim of an assault, robbery or sexual assault. A June report found the number had increased 30,000 over the period the survey was captured.
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These live updates are now over - thanks for joining us.
New Auckland harbour bridge?
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Asked about Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown's view on a second bridge across the Waitemata Harbour, Luxon says he doesn't have a view and Transport and Local Government Minister Simeon Brown would work through it.
A bed tax also hasn't been a topic of conversation, Luxon says when asked for his views on one.
Te Wiki o te Reo Māori
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Luxon says National MP Tama Potaka is focused on policy around te reo use.
He says he has made a number of videos about Te Wiki o te Reo Māori when asked why he didn't mention it in his opening remarks.
Goldsmith says Te Wiki o te Reo Māori is part of our culture and should encourage people to learn something new.
Gangs legislation
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Asked why the Government had made changes to the gangs legislation on the advice of police but without public consultation, Luxon says it shows the Government will back the police.
Asked why there wasn't a focus on hate symbols, like a swastika, Goldsmith says this legislation is about gangs, which contribute to victimisations in the community.
The minister is asked a number of questions about whether he would be comfortable with police going into a home to get a swastika. Goldsmith said his focus was on gang members.
Prisoner number increase
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There could be between 1400 and 1700 more prisoners per annum over 10 years as a result of the sentencing changes being announced, Goldsmith said.
This would cost between $60m and $190m.
Luxon reveals police advice
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Luxon is asked what police are telling him to bring the victimisations down.
He says one of the takeaway was that police have a lot of time consumed with mental health callouts. The Government has already made announcements about changing how these are dealt with.
The Prime Minister says there is a lot to think about with regard to technology that can assist police.
Importance of targets
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Luxon says targets are important in themselves, but it is also about driving conversations within the public service. The Government is asking what more can it be doing.
He can't say when the direction might turn around. Sometimes the numbers will go against us, while other targets will be more positive, Luxon says.
He says action is needed to address those going the wrong way.
Luxon says Labour was soft on crime
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Luxon says society is about rights and responsibilities. He says people cannot take the rights and freedoms of being a Kiwi without taking on the responsibility.
People who commit repeat offences will face harsh punishments, he says. Offenders must be held accountable for their actions.
The Prime Minister says the previous Government was soft on crime.
He points to his Government's new gang laws, focus on increasing the number of police officers and military-style academies as things it is doing to be tough on crime.
Asked why the new Government adapted some ideas Labour put forward while it was in power, Goldsmith said Labour did come up with the "occasional good idea" near the end of its term. They are part of a broader suite of actions.
Luxon says his Government is "strengthening it up" and looks forward to bipartisan support.
Goldsmith's crime reforms
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Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says as well as the target to reduce victims by 20,000, the Government wants to reduce repeat serious youth offending.
He says the Government wants to return victims to the heart of the justice system and this includes denouncing offending.
The Government will this week introduce a number of reforms, including capping sentencing discounts judges can apply at 40%, preventing repeat discounts for youth and remorse, and introducing a new aggravating factor for offending against sole charge workers and those whose home and businesses are connected.
Goldsmith says the repeated discounts run counter to the principles that people should be accountable for their actions.
He also says anyone offending on bail or parole show a disrespect for the justice system and the use of cumulative sentencing should denounce this.
Crime target at risk
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The Government is releasing its first quarterly report for its nine targets, including on crime and housing.
Luxon says these targets focus resource and accountability.
These targets are deliberately ambitious and the first report shows they will be challenging to achieve, he says.
There is good progress on reducing people in emergency housing, but one target that is at risk is having 20,000 fewer people being a victim of an assault, robbery or sexual assault.
However, a June report found the number had increased 30,000 over the period the survey was captured.
The Prime Minister says the result adds fresh weight which shows a "concerning" rise of reports of crime and this shows the "previous soft-on-crime approach" had emboldened offenders.
Today, the Prime Minister says, the Government has an update on changes being made to sentencing.
Luxon and Goldsmith arrive
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Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith have arrived for this week's Post-Cab press conference.
Luxon thanks police for hosting him during his Saturday night ride-along. He says he came away with more respect for officers and it was a privilege to spend time with them.
Luxon focuses on law and order at post-Cabinet
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Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is set to continue his focus on law and order policies as he holds his post-Cabinet press conference today.
It follows Luxon’s ride-along with Auckland police on Saturday night and yesterday’s media stand-up during which Luxon and Police Minister Mark Mitchell welcomed police data showing assaults were decreasing in Auckland’s CBD.
Luxon is expected to be joined by Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and is likely to address his Government’s law and order policies.
The press conference begins at 4pm and will be live-streamed at the top of this article.
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The report states it is still “feasible” targets concerning emergency department and elective treatment wait times, youth offending, Jobseeker benefits and student attendance will be achieved.
Achieving targets on emergency housing numbers and net greenhouse gas emissions is considered probable or on track as of the end of the June quarter.
In a week when Luxon is set to focus on law and order, his target to reduce the number of people experiencing violent crime by 20,000 has gone in the other direction.
In a statement, he said that was of “particular concern” and claimed it was due to previous Labour Government actions that “emboldened offenders” and “created a crime wave”.
The data was collected through the Crime and Victims’ Survey. The latest survey captured violent crime experienced between July 2022 and June this year.
As of June, 214,737 people had experienced violent crime. The Government’s target was 165,000.
The report, compiled by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet [DPMC], classified the target as “at risk” of not being achieved.
The Government’s deadline to achieve the targets was 2030.
The same “at risk” classification was also given to the target of getting 80% of Year 8 students at or above their expected curriculum level in reading, writing and maths.
The latest data from Term 4 last year, also the target’s baseline, showed 22% of students were at curriculum in maths and 47% in reading.
The likelihood of having 75% fewer households in emergency housing was considered probable, with about 1000 fewer households since the target was established.
There had been a small improvement in ED wait times, with 70% of patients admitted or discharged within six hours - up from 68% but well short of the 95% target.
Wait times for elective treatment had worsened, with 56% of people waiting less than four months - down on the 62% baseline and heading away from its 95% target.
However, it was still considered feasible. DPMC’s report noted the Government’s interventions in health, including the appointment of a commissioner at Health NZ and the intention to maximise private sector capacity.
There’d been a slight uptick in youth crime, away from the 15% reduction target, which was still deemed feasible.
An extra 6400 people had taken up the Jobseeker benefit since the target was set. The Government intended to reduce the overall number (140,000) by 50,000.
Tougher sentences coming for criminal offenders
Government plans to see tougher sentences handed down to offenders will be introduced at Parliament this week.
Many of the proposed changes expected in the Bill were announced in late June, and canvass capping the sentence discounts judges can apply at 40% and preventing repeat discounts for youth and remorse.
On Monday, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith also announced two aggravating factors would be added to the Bill:
These related to:
Goldsmith said these changes were about sending “a clear message social media cannot be a tool to glorify or celebrate the actions of callous individuals and nor should adults exploit children and young people in the commission of crimes.”
Other proposed changes to the sentencing system include:
Goldsmith said public confidence in the sentencing system had “diminished”.
“In recent years, there has been a concerning trend where the courts have imposed fewer and shorter prison sentences despite a 33% increase in violent crime.
“These changes will help ensure there are 20,000 fewer victims of violent crime by 2029, alongside reducing serious repeat youth offending by 15%.”
These changes are part of the Government’s wider law and order ambitions. The Government is also proposing to restore Three Strikes legislation and is piloting a military-style boot camp academy while the Gangs Bill is expected to pass its third reading this week – which includes a controversial new power that would allow courts to ban gang patches in the home.
Auckland CBD crime stats fall
Luxon thanked police for hosting him during his Saturday night ride-along. He said he came away with more respect for officers and it was a privilege to spend time with them.
Luxon held a media stand-up yesterday with Police Minister Mark Mitchell.
The pair spoke to media from Auckland Central police station yesterday to celebrate police data showing a 22% reduction in serious assaults in the Auckland CBD in the period from January to July this year compared to the same period last year.
There had been an 18% reduction in serious assaults resulting in injury in that time as well.
In May, Mitchell chaired the first of now regular meetings between Auckland Council, Kāinga Ora, the Ministry of Social Development, ratepayers’ groups, business associations and social service providers to develop a strategy to improve safety in the city.
He said the co-ordinated approach had led to 97 people being referred to accommodation, addiction and family wellbeing support between July 1 and September 10.
That came alongside efforts to reduce the use of emergency housing, with 68% fewer households in emergency housing in the CBD since May.
That was a reduction from 53 households to 17. Mitchell said it included the closing of two emergency motels.
Mitchell did not describe any link between emergency housing tenants and crime rates.
Luxon said emergency housing tenants often had complex issues and therefore needed support from social services.
Labour police spokeswoman Ginny Andersen said she was concerned about the Government’s approach to crime reduction.
“Pushing people out to the suburbs does not address the causes of crime.
“These people need help and the Government has so far spent a year in Government cutting funding from frontline services and is yet to announce what will fill the gap now that police are pulling back on mental health callouts.”
Adam Pearse is a political reporter in the NZ Herald Press Gallery team, based at Parliament. He has worked for NZME since 2018, covering sport and health for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei before moving to the NZ Herald in Auckland, covering Covid-19 and crime.