<[link removed]>Hi Friend,

This week has been a big one for law and order in New Zealand. I have been proud to stand alongside Winston Peters to announce some significant changes to legislation in order to reintroduce criminals to a little thing called 'consequences'. New Zealand First has always understood that feeling safe is a fundamental right and that responsible governments put the needs of victims at the centre of the justice system, not offenders.

It is hard to convey just how bad things were when we took over in 2023. Labour had made it their mission to empty our prisons and without New Zealand First as a voice of reason, they accelerated their plan after the 2020 election.    

But as the prison population plummeted, the number of victims of crime was increasing at an alarming rate. Who could have foreseen that? Well, Winston Peters, for one. That's why New Zealand First halted Labour's attempt to repeal the Three Strikes Law in 2018, for example.

At the last election we campaigned hard on our law and order policies and Kiwis put their trust in us to restore justice. This week has been a great example of just how we are doing that.

But we need your support to continue this vital work. A donation today will ensure that we have the best chance of being back in Government next year <[link removed]> to continue our work dismantling Labour's criminal paradise and putting the teeth back in our justice system.

Quite rightly, Kiwis have been outraged at the degree to which sentencing discounts have been doled out to offenders in recent years. We heard your calls for serious sentencesand just a few days ago our sentencing reforms took effect.

Good governments, who care about the safety and wellbeing of their people, take action to ensure that offenders face proper consequences. They are tough on crime and do not make endless excuses for people doing huge amounts of harm.

That is why our legislation caps the sentence discounts that judges can apply at 40%, prevents repeat discounts for youth and remorse, introduces new aggravating factors, encourages the use of cumulative sentencing for offences committed while on bail, in custody, or on parole, a maximum discount of 25% for early guilty pleas, and adds a new principle to sentencing to take into account victims interests.

We are delivering the kind of tough, no-nonsense law and order reform that Kiwis have been demanding for years.

Let’s be clear: New Zealand First’s relentless approach to law and order is bringing an end to the era of weak policies and soft-on-crime approaches. We are taking action, and we are putting the criminals on notice.

If you, too, want a New Zealand where victims of crime can expect proper justice and criminals can expect consequences, please consider chipping in to New Zealand First's Commonsense Fund. <[link removed]>

As someone who’s spent years on the frontlines as a police officer, I’ve seen how weak laws and lack of action have made our streets more dangerous. I’ve seen how criminals have been emboldened, how first responders have been left vulnerable, and how victims have been ignored. That’s why New Zealand First doesn't shy away from making sure that our law and order policies are as tough as they need to be.

NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS

This week, Winston and I, along with Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith, have made some important announcements about upcoming legislation to make New Zealand safer. 

First of all, we are bringing in harsher penalties for violence against first responders. We don't accept that those who show up when we call 111 should have to face the amount of violence that they do each and everyday.

These brave men and women put their lives on the line to keep us safe. We owe them more than lip service; they deserve the full protection of the law, and New Zealand First is making sure they get it. Depending on the severity, assaults on first responders will now have max sentences of 3, 5, and 7 years.

We’re also calling out the "Coward’s Punch" for what it is: a heinous, gutless act that ruins and ends lives. New Zealand First has ensured that this attack will be a specific criminal offence, delivering on a coalition agreement promise.

This policy has been a New Zealand First staple. It is extraordinary that previous governments resisted our calls for a Coward's Punch law, but we finally got it over the line with our partners in this Coalition Government.

Anyone who delivers a Coward’s Punch will face the full force of the law. We’re taking a stand for the victims, and we’re making sure that those who commit these senseless attacks feel the full weight of justice. These specific offences will attract maximum sentences of 8 years in the case of reckless disregard for safety and 15 years for intent to cause grievous bodily harm. A culpable homicide conviction will, of course, result in a maximum of a life sentence. 

Under Labour we saw shoplifting become normalised. Suddenly there was a flood of brazen criminals pushing trolleys full of unpaid-for groceries out of supermarkets and ram-raiding corner dairies. You'll have noticed ram raids are well down since our Government reintroduced the concept of consequences to lawbreakers. 

However, we have a way to go in terms of unwinding the weak and permissive crime environment Labour created. That is why we are introducing a new fine system to ensure that even so-called "low level" shoplifting is effectively punished. Infringements fees will start at $500.

We’ve drawn a line in the sand: steal, and you’ll pay. No more free passes. This is about sending a message that if you break the law, you will face the consequences.

It has been a fantastic week of announcements and we are thrilled to be able to deliver on the law and order policies New Zealand First supporters have been calling for. This is what it is all about.

But we can’t do it without you. Donate today to join the wave of momentum driving support for these common sense policies. <[link removed]>



These reforms are a direct result of New Zealanders, like you, backing New Zealand First to drive an anti-crime agenda in government. But we need to fill the war chest and we need your help to do that. <[link removed]>

Forget the Greens' and Te Pāti Māori's "defund da police" and "abolish prisons" nonsense. If their policies weren't so dangerous they would be hilarious. These people seriously think that a bit of mediation and 'hugging it out' is appropriate justice for violent crime? 

The thing is, the champagne wokesters who promote these destructive policies inevitably don't have to experience the worst of the consequences of them. It is all fun and games when you're dreaming up Marxist fantasies at university, but in the real world these ideas spell disaster. 

If you believe in personal responsibility and consequences for crime, we need you to stand with us. Please donate today to ensure a safer New Zealand for all.  <We%20need%20to%20fill%20the%20war%20chest%20—%20and%20we%20need%20your%20help%20to%20do%20that.>

Friend, this is only the beginning. New Zealand First is committed to pushing for even tougher, smarter policies that will make New Zealand a safer place for everyone. We’re not stopping here. We’re going to keep driving law and order improvements that will keep our streets safe, protect our communities, and make criminals face the consequences of their actions.

Your support has been crucial to our achievements so far. With New Zealand First leading the charge, we’ve made significant progress. But we need to be sure that New Zealand First is fighting fit come 2026 so that we can continue pushing for the change that New Zealand needs. Chip in to the Commonsense Fund here. <[link removed]>

We are not a party of billionaires. We don’t take marching orders from overseas donors or powerful union groups. Our party has always been a grassroots movement that depends on the support of everyday Kiwis,  <[link removed]>people like you who believe that violent crime should be punished, victims should get justice, and courage in politics still counts for something.Check out our Commonsense Fund. <[link removed]>

Thank you for standing with us.

Casey Costello

New Zealand First

P.S. New Zealand First is driving the tough-on-crime agenda within the coalition government. If you want to help us continue this fight, support us today. Together, we’ll keep the pressure on and make sure New Zealand is safer for all. <[link removed]>

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