The Justice Minister says the Government has more work to do after a survey found an estimated 148,000 people were victims of violent crime in the 12 months to May this year.
The Ministry of Justice's latest Crime and Victims Survey showed an increase of 9000 victims of violent crime to May 2026 – a 6% increase from the previous quarter to February.
There was also an increase in both family violence (up 18%) and non-family violence (up 6%).
in April 2024, the Government set itself a target of reducing the victims of violent crime by 20,000 by 2029 from a 2023 baseline of 185,000 victims to 165,000.
Since then, the number of victims has plummeted. In February this year, the Government announced there were 49,000 fewer victims of violent crime.
However, the last two surveys have shown rises of 3000 and 9000 victims respectively – there are now 37,000 fewer victims of crime.
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith today said that he wouldn't describe the 9000-victim increase as a surge.
"What we've seen is 37,000 fewer victims of serious crime since we came into Government in 2023 and that's 37,000 fewer families that are having to go through the trauma of crime – what we've seen is a slight uptick.
"We're well on track to nearly double our target."
However, the survey also found there were now more Māori victims of crime than in 2023.
Compared to the 2023 baseline, Māori victims increased by 5000 (up 11%) from 44,000 to 49,000.
"It just goes to show we've got a lot more work to do," Goldsmith said.
Green Party police spokesperson Tamatha Paul said the survey showed there were more victims in Māori communities under the current Government than the previous Labour-led government.
"Regardless of who is in the Government, that is devastating," she said.
"I think this also demonstrates the limits to a tough on crime approach and the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff approach – addressing poverty, food security and all of these basic human rights will also go a long way to deter crime as well."
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