Watch live: Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith announces harsher penalties for one-punch attacks
The government will legislate to ensure coward punches are treated as a specific offence.
Coward punches, also known as king hits, are when strikes are delivered to a victim's head or neck, without warning and when the victim is unable to defend themselves.
Justice minister Paul Goldsmith said specific offences would reflect the gravity of the crime.
"We know how dangerous they are. People can be killed or suffer lifelong brain injuries, yet perpetrators often receive lenient and insufficient sentences," he said.
There were renewed calls to specifically criminalise coward punches in 2021, following the
death of Fau Vake in Auckland
.
In that instance,
Daniel Havili pleaded guilty to manslaughter
, and was sentenced to two years and nine months in jail.
The government's announcement follows a separate piece of legislation announced over the weekend, to introduce
higher penalties for people who assault first responders
.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero
,
a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NZ Herald
29 minutes ago
- NZ Herald
New fines, longer prison sentences coming for shoplifters
A new fines regime, longer prison sentences and an 'aggravated theft offence' are being introduced to deter shoplifters. In measures announced by the Government today, a new infringement regime will impose a $500 fine on a person stealing goods valued up to $500. For goods worth more than $500, fines would be up to $1,000. A new 'aggravated theft offence' will apply for thieves taking goods worth less than $2000 and if the theft is 'offensive, threatening, insulting, or disorderly'. The Government has strengthened maximum penalties for theft, to one year in prison for stolen goods worth $2000 or less and seven years if the value exceeded $2000. The measures are within the Government's wider reform of the Crimes Act, expected to be introduced to the House this year. It's understood police would have the next year to implement the new fines regime. Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith said light penalties for shoplifting undermined public confidence in the justice system. 'Currently, the administrative burden can deter retailers from making official complaints, and lower-level offending often goes unreported or unpunished. 'It's disheartening, and our Government will not sit by while shoplifters rob businesses of their livelihoods.' The measures originated from the Government's Ministerial Advisory Group, created to combat retail crime. The same group was behind the Government's adoption of new citizen's arrest powers that allowed retailers to detain shoplifters as they waited for police.
RNZ News
37 minutes ago
- RNZ News
Instant fines, tougher sentences for shoplifters on the way
Shoplifters could be issued on-the-spot tickets up to $1000 as part of the government's latest crime crackdown. Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced the new infringement regime in Auckland on Tuesday, as well as tougher penalties for theft. "Currently, the administrative burden can deter retailers from making official complaints, and lower-level offending often goes unreported or unpunished," Goldsmith said. "Our government will not sit by while shoplifters rob businesses of their livelihoods." Under the new scheme, those caught shoplifting lower-value goods could be stung up to $500. For stolen goods worth more than that, the fine could climb as high as $1000. The maximum punishment for theft would also be hiked to one year imprisonment for goods worth $2000 or less, or seven years for goods worth more than $2000. A new aggravated theft offence would be created for high-value theft carried out in an "offensive, threatening, insulting, or disorderly" manner. "Harsher penalties could mean up to twice as long behind bars for aggravated theft, and criminals will be forced to think twice before destroying more lives," McKee said. The changes fulfilled a commitment in the National-New Zealand First coalition agreement for tougher consequences for lower-level crimes such as shoplifting. At the weekend, Goldsmith proposed the introduction of higher penalties for people who assault first responders . And on Monday, the government said it would legislate to ensure coward punches were treated as a specific offence . Coward punches, also known as king-hits, are when strikes are delivered to a victim's head or neck without warning, and when the victim is unable to defend themselves. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
an hour ago
- RNZ News
Te Pāti Māori MP Takutai Tarsh Kemp laid to rest
Watch the livestream from Opaea Marae above This story was updated to clarify that the nēhu was on Tuesday Hundreds of people are at the nēhu, or burial service, for Te Pāti Māori MP Takutai Moana Natasha Kemp. Kemp, 50, died last Thursday, prompting an outpouring of grief from fellow MPs and the public who lamented the loss of a staunch adovacate for rangatahi and South Auckland. The Tāmaki Makaurau MP was taken to lie at Hoani Waititi Marae in West Auckland until Saturday morning, before travelling to Opaea Marae just north of Taihape. Takutai Tarsh Kemp has been laid rest on the grounds behind Opaea Marae. Photo: Pokere Paewai / RNZ Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi told the service at Opaea Marae Kemp was a "peaceful, soft, but strong leader for her people". Opaea Marae trustee Cyril Mako said preparing to host the masses in such a short time was tough but many whānau pitched in to prepare today's nēhu (burial). Opaea Marae spokesperson Cyril Mako. Photo: RNZ / Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira Mako told RNZ he was expecting between 800 and 1200 people to attend - a tall order for a small marae like Opaea. "If you'd been here five years ago we weren't actually functioning," he said. "It's an old marae, our toilet block had been pulled down and we were basically closed for a period of time." Mako said they had to rely on the help of nearby marae - their whānau - to help with kai preparation and housing people who travelled for the burial service. Te Pāti Māori MP Takutai Tarsh Kemp was laid to rest on Tuesday. Photo: Pokere Paewai / RNZ "They jumped at it, and we really appreciate it because we couldn't have done it ourselves." Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins and other party members were welcomed onto the marae just after 9am. Speaking at a post-cabinet media conference, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said he would not be attending the tangi, but the National Party would be well represented. Luxon also ruled out announcing a date for the Tāmaki Makarau by-election, triggered by Kemp's death, saying he wanted the week to be focussed on her. Kemp's MP car at the marae. Photo: Pokere Paewai / RNZ Speaking to media, Hipkins said he would not criticise the prime minister for not attending but the death of a sitting member of Parliament was rare. The nēhu, or burial service, began at 11am and the day is being streamed live online. The burial was at Opaea Marae. Photo: Pokere Paewai / RNZ Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
