# Taking $14.6 million off criminals to protect New Zealanders

Date: 5 Oct 2026
Released by: Hon Nicole McKee

## MediaRelease.co Summary

Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee says about $14.6 million from the Proceeds of Crime Fund will support nine initiatives to reduce violence, prevent reoffending, and disrupt the drug trade. The package includes border tools for Customs and early intervention for young people.

## Original release

Money seized from criminals will fund nine initiatives to reduce violence, prevent reoffending, and disrupt the drug trade, says Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee. “Criminals profit from other people’s misery. We are taking that money off them and putting it to work protecting New Zealanders,” says Mrs McKee. “The Proceeds of Crime Fund has allocated $14.587 million to initiatives focused on fewer victims and safer communities. “That means intervening before young people’s offending escalates, helping victims escape violence, and giving Customs better tools to stop drugs at the border. “New Zealanders expect money taken from criminals to deliver results. Following our refocus of the Fund, these investments must directly contribute to reducing violent crime. “We have already exceeded the Government’s target of 20,000 fewer victims of violent crime by December 2029, but we want to go even further.” The nine funded initiatives are:

## Key details

- Author/spokesperson: Hon Nicole McKee
- Published: 5 Oct 2026
- Publisher country: New Zealand
- Subject country/region: New Zealand
- Original source: https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/taking-146-million-criminals-protect-new-zealanders
- MediaRelease.co URL: https://mediarelease.co/nz/mr01223-taking-14-6-million-off-criminals-to-protect-new-zealan-05102026.html

Original source: https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/taking-146-million-criminals-protect-new-zealanders
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