Story: Violent crime

Highlighting violence in New Zealand

Highlighting violence in New Zealand

Part of a 2002 protest against violent crime, Sensible Sentencing Trust activist Norm Withers holds a photo of his elderly mother Nan, who was very badly beaten by an intruder in 1997. Crosses representing New Zealand's victims of violent crime were laid out on the steps of Parliament at the protest. Community activism over the number of violent deaths has intensified in New Zealand in recent years, and Withers has been a key spokesperson. Together with the Sensible Sentencing Trust, he has campaigned for harsher sentences for those who commit violent crimes, especially murder.

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Photograph by Ross Land

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How to cite this page:

Greg Newbold, 'Violent crime - Trends in violent crime', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/26482/highlighting-violence-in-new-zealand (accessed 30 March 2023)

Story by Greg Newbold, published 5 May 2011, reviewed & revised 18 Mar 2019