Matua Kahurangi: Three Strikes isn’t enough

The Three Strikes law is back. After Labour scrapped it in 2022, the coalition government reinstated it a few months back in June with some tweaks, like more judicial discretion and considerations for guilty pleas. For serious violent and sexual offenders, it remains one of the few sentencing regimes that treats repeat offending with the seriousness it deserves - first strike, a warning; second strike, no parole; third strike, maximum sentence with no parole.

Ani O'Brien: A week is a long time - 28 June 2025

Rest in peace, Takutai Tarsh Moana Kemp

Having only just celebrated her 50th birthday, Te Pāti Māori MP Takutai Tarsh Kemp sadly passed away this week. She had been diagnosed with kidney disease last year and was receiving treatment. She was on the waiting list for a transplant. The assumption has been that she succumbed to her illness.

Kate Hawkesby: Sentences like we saw the other day are why many sexual assault victims don't come forward

Everything that's wrong with our justice system at the moment was summed up this week by the judge who gave those two sex offenders home detention.

They were described as two of this country's most notorious sexual predators, their offending so heinous one of the victim's called it depraved, one's had PTSD and flashbacks since, one had attempted suicide twice.

The judge apparently choked back tears as he said, ‘The harm to the victims can only be described as profound.’

Stuart Smith: Parents Should Feel Confident that School is a Safe Environment

Stuff asked the following question

A school where the principal is related to a rapist hired him as a teacher aide.
Students and parents weren’t told of his past and the Education Ministry wouldn't intervene. The man quit once Stuff revealed the case.
Will Parliament stand up for children and urgently pass a law to bar sex offenders from working at schools?

Below is Stuart Smith’s response: