New move-on orders are another tool for Invercargill police as they work to keep Invercargill streets safe.

Announced last month, these orders will give police an extra tool to deal with disorderly behaviour in public places.

This is something that has been concerning Invercargill retailers and I am hopeful police will find these extra powers useful.

Our streets and the Invercargill Central Mall have faced disruption and disturbance from time to time.

Some businesses are particularly fed up with the bad behaviour and it needs to stop.

Move-on orders will mean police can require someone to leave a specified area for up to 24 hours and will connect people with any support services they need.

I believe this will be effective in turning this problem around.

We’ve also recently received the latest statistics from the national Crime and Victims survey, showing the progress we are making in restoring law and order.

There has been a 22 percent drop in serious repeat youth offending, across the country, since National took office, and ram raids are down 85 percent.

Overall crime rates in Southland are also dropping.

In the year to September 2025, reports of theft fell 19 percent, from 1840 to 1514, while traffic and vehicle offences dropped 13 percent, from 1283 to 1123.

The number of fleeing driver callouts also fell by more than half — from 153 to 65, but police responded to double the number of collisions in Southland, at 24, up from 12.

Local police should be commended for their efforts – they continue to work hard to keep our communities safe and we thank them for that.

The Government is also keeping the pressure on and we make no apologies for being tough on crime.

Labour left New Zealand in a state of lawlessness and would do it again – they have opposed every action we have taken to restore law and order, but we are committed to keeping people safe, here in the South and around the country.

Funded by Parliamentary Services, published by arrangement.

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