National, Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori block ACT's tougher coward-punch laws

National, Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori have voted against ACT's proposal to strengthen New Zealand's coward-punch laws.

ACT Justice spokesperson Todd Stephenson proposed an amendment to the Crimes Amendment Bill that would have created a specific offence of manslaughter for fatal coward punches, applying when someone is killed by a strike to the head or neck while they had little or no chance to defend themselves. The amendment also required minimum prison terms of eight years for adults and six years for youth offenders. National, Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori all voted against it.

"A coward punch can leave someone with lifelong injuries or take their life. The law should be clear and on the side of victims.

"ACT's amendment would have ensured people who kill with a coward punch face serious consequences. If Parliament is introducing new laws in this area, they should send a clear message that this sort of violence will not be tolerated.

"The vote tells New Zealanders exactly where the parties stand. National, Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori all voted against tougher coward-punch laws.

"Labour MP Duncan Webb summed it up during the debate when he said, 'Labour doesn't support coward-punch laws.' New Zealanders can make of that what they will.

"ACT will keep fighting for a justice system that puts victims first and holds violent offenders properly to account."