Police investigate nearly double usual rate of deaths over Christmas and New Years holiday season following eight homicides

By Rachel Helyer Donaldson

RNZ·

6 Jan, 2024 02:37 AM3 mins to read

Police stand guard near the scene in a West Auckland reserve where a security guard was found dead on December 18. Photo / RNZ/Lucy Xia

By Rachel Helyer Donaldson of RNZ

The rate of homicides in the country has almost doubled over the past three weeks, with police saying they have started eight separate investigations since December 16.

The police’s 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.

They are also looking into two other deaths in Auckland, two in Hamilton and one in Hastings.

The Police Association Te Aka Hāpai said the dramatic increase in homicides over Christmas and New Year was unheard of.

Vice president Steve Watt said it was something he had not seen in his 23-year career.

He said stress may have played a part in some of the cases.

“The pressure that comes on families around this holiday period certainly plays a factor in the increase in violence, and the jobs that we’re attending.

“It culminates over a whole year of pressure, and tends to have that explosive element to it at this time of year.”

Police cordons in the Christchurch suburb of Aranui after a 38-year-old man was found dead on January 4. Photo / Sam Sherwood

Senior Sergeant Watt said the spike in homicides was also putting extra pressure on staff, with the holiday period already a busy time.

“With the amount of homicides we have been having, alongside our business-as-usual jobs that we have to deal with, there’s an increase in demand from the public... and that just adds to the relentless pressure that the members are under.”

A police spokesperson said 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”.

The spokesperson added: “Each of these deaths is tragic and will have far-reaching and devastating impacts for the victims’ families and loved ones.

“These deaths are all the subject of extensive investigations, or are already before the courts.”