Who Can Take Credit for the Dramatic Drop in Ram-Raid Incidents?

Once a regular feature in the news, ram-raids have seen a staggering decline in recent years—from a peak of 714 in 2022 to just 45 so far in 2025. The question now is: who deserves the credit for this dramatic reduction?

The debate has intensified following recent remarks from Labour’s Chris Hipkins, who controversially suggested that the media was covering up the issue. This sparked a response from National, which has taken credit for its own law-and-order approach and the current drop in crime.

However, the data tells a more nuanced story. When Labour came to power in 2017, ram-raids were relatively low. But they surged during its second term, reaching a peak in 2022. Then, in 2023, the numbers began to fall sharply, and this year they are at an all-time low.

Labour’s Approach
During its time in office, Labour took a multi-pronged approach to tackle ram-raids. Initially, the focus was on protecting businesses with measures such as bollards and fog cannons. But the real turning point came with the introduction of the Circuit-Breaker Programme, launched by then-Police Minister Chris Hipkins.

This initiative brought together agencies like Education, Health, Oranga Tamariki, and Justice to provide intensive, wrap-around support to families affected by ram-raids, particularly those with a history of domestic violence and youth offending. The program was fast-tracked to respond within 24–48 hours, preventing repeat offenses and addressing root causes such as mental health, food insecurity, and lack of education resources.

According to Ginny Andersen, the current Police Minister, the Circuit-Breaker Programme was the most effective intervention. She noted that the number of monthly ram-raids dropped from around 90 in January 2023 to about 30 by October of that year.

National’s Perspective
While the current National Government acknowledges the success of the Circuit-Breaker Programme, it argues that Labour allowed the problem to escalate before taking action. Police Minister Mark Mitchell has criticized Labour for being slow to respond, comparing the situation to “congratulating the arsonist who then uses a garden hose to put out the fire.”

However, Mitchell also credits the Circuit-Breaker Programme for being a “key intervention” that helped reduce ram-raids. He argues that the current Government has accelerated the decline by prioritizing law and order, increasing police presence, launching gang disruption units, and passing anti-gang legislation.

What’s Next?
Despite the progress, both parties agree that there is still a long way to go. The drop in ram-raids is a positive sign, but challenges remain, particularly with youth offending and the influence of gangs. The success of the Circuit-Breaker Programme suggests that a supportive, holistic approach is key to long-term solutions.

As the debate over credit continues, one thing is clear: the dramatic reduction in ram-raids is the result of combined efforts from both previous and current Governments. The question now is whether this momentum can be sustained—and what lessons can be learned for the future.