(Photo RNZ Photo by Lucy Xia)
Rachel Helyer Donaldson
Wellington, January 6, 2024
The rate of homicides in the country has almost doubled over the past three weeks, with the Police saying that they have started eight separate investigations since 16 December.
The latest annual homicide report shows that, between 2007 and 2020, New Zealand has averaged one murder or manslaughter every five days, not counting the Christchurch mosque shootings.
Yet over the past 21 days, there have been eight homicide probes.
They include the fatal shooting of a Lower Hutt man at a birthday party at his home in mid-December, a Manurewa teenager killed on New Year’s Day and that of a 38-year-old male found dead in a Christchurch street on Thursday. The Police are also looking into two other deaths in Auckland, two in Hamilton and one in Hastings.
Stress and family pressures
Police Association Vice-President Senior Sergeant Steve Watt said the dramatic increase in homicides over Christmas and New Year is unprecedented.
Refreshers
Homicides since 16 December:
16 December – a man was shot dead at a birthday party at Lower Hutt
18 December – A security guard, 25, is found dead in West Auckland park, Massey
20 December – A 24-year-old man died after an alleged assault in Hastings
21 December – An inmate, 47, at Auckland’s Wiri prison died after an assault in the facility’s kitchen
21 December – A 62-year-old man is found dead after what police call an ‘altercation’ in Hamilton East
30 December – A 24-year-old man is found dead in driveway in a Hamilton suburb
1 January – A 19-year-old teenager is shot in a vehicle in South Auckland early in the morning on New Year’s Day
4 January – A 38-year-old man is found dead on a Christchurch road
He said that it was something he had not seen in his 23-year career and that stress may have played a part in some of the cases.
“The pressures that come on families around this holiday period certainly play a factor in the increase in violence, and the jobs that we are attending. It culminates over a year of pressure and tends to have that explosive element at this time of year,” he said.
Senior Sergeant Watt said that the spike in homicides was also putting extra pressure on staff, with the holiday period already a busy time.
“With the number of homicides that we have been having, alongside our business-as-usual jobs that we have to deal with, there is an increase in demand from the public… and that just adds to the relentless pressure that the members are under.”
Another Police Spokesperson said that it was difficult to attribute patterns or trends in homicides – “even when it may appear there has been a ‘spike’ or ‘cluster’” – because each case “has unique circumstances.”
“Each of these deaths is tragic and will have far-reaching and devastating impacts on the victims’ families and loved ones. These deaths are all the subject of extensive investigations, or are already before the courts,” the Spokesperson said.
Rachel Helyer Donaldson filed the above Report and pictures for Radio New Zealand, reproduced under a Special Agreement with www.rnz.co.nz
