'Three Strikes' in New Zealand
New Zealand introduced a form of the three strikes law in early 2010 as part of the Sentencing and Parole Reform Bill. The legislation was introduced by the ACT Party and passed by 63 votes to 58 in May 2010. There was strong opposition from the Labour Party, the Greens and the Maori Party. Supporting the Bill, Act MP David Garrett said it would make New Zealand a safer place. Labour's Grant Robertson said his party was deeply concerned about rising crime rates but the bill did not address the causes of those crimes.
The Act applies to offenders who commit one of the 40 qualifying crimes which are punishable by a maximum of seven years' imprisonment or more. For a first strike, the offender will be sentenced as normal, with the usual parole eligibility. A second strike will also bring a prison sentence, but the jail term must be served with no parole unless doing so would be manifestly unjust. If they commit a third offence, they receive the maximum prison penalty with no possibility of parole.
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