Tēnā koe David,

Thank you for emailing the Ministry of Justice (the Ministry).

We acknowledge receipt of your request under the Official Information Act
1982.  Specifically, you requested:

I would like information on murderers and murder victims, broken down by
ethnicity. Specially a cross-reference, so one can state that where the
murderer was a particular ethnicity, what was the ethnicity of the
victims.

 

Ideally this would be for the last ten years, but a shorter period is fine
is that is easier.

This has been forwarded onto the relevant business unit to respond to. 

The Ministry may publish the response to your request on our website, you
can expect that if your OIA is to be published that this will take place
at least 10 working days after it has been sent you. Your name and any
other personal information will be withheld under Section 9(2)(a) (protect
the privacy of natural persons). 

You can expect a response by 6 November 2025.

Ngā mihi nui,

 

Ministerial Services

   

Communications and Ministerial Services | Corporate Services

Ministry of Justice | Tāhū o te Ture [1]justice.govt.nz

 

 

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Tēnā koe David,

 

Thank you for your email of 8 October 2025 to the Ministry of Justice
(the Ministry), requesting under the Official Information Act 1982 (the
Act), data on murderers and murder victims, broken down by ethnicity.
Specifically, you requested:

I would like information on murderers and murder victims, broken down by
ethnicity. Specially a cross-reference, so one can state that where the
murderer was a particular ethnicity, what was the ethnicity of the
victims.

Ideally this would be for the last ten years, but a shorter period is fine
is that is easier.

 

Data on the ethnicity of people convicted of murder is in Ministry
published data. Please refer to Table 2d of the attached excel spreadsheet
for this information.

 

The Ministry does not report on the data of victims. However, the New
Zealand Police does report on homicide victims. The Homicide Victims
Report 2023 provides data from 2007-2012 and does report on ethnicity. The
Historical NZ Murder Rate Report provides data from 1926-2023, however
does not report on ethnicity. Both reports can be found at: [1]Homicide
Victims Report 2023 and Historical NZ Murder Rate Report 1926-2023 | New
Zealand Police.

 

Your request is therefore being refused under section 18(d) of the Act, as
the information is publicly available. Please note that these data sources
do not cross-reference information of the victim or offender.

 

If you are not satisfied with this response, you have the right to make a
complaint to the Ombudsman under section 28 of the Act. The Office of the
Ombudsman may be contacted by phone on: 0800 802 602, by email at:
[2][email address], or via the webform: [3]Make a complaint
(for members of the public) | Ombudsman New Zealand.

 

Ngā mihi,

 

  Communications and Ministerial Services | Corporate Services

Ministry of Justice | Tāhū o te Ture
Justice Centre | 19 Aitken Street, Wellington (6011)

[4][email address]

[5][email address]

[6][Ministry of Justice request email]

[7]justice.govt.nz

 

 

From: [Ministry of Justice request email] <[Ministry of Justice request email]>
Sent: Thursday, October 9, 2025 8:28 AM
To: David Farrar <[FOI #32523 email]>
Subject: RE: Official Information request - Murder and Ethnicity (ref:
126641)

 

Tēnā koe David,

Thank you for emailing the Ministry of Justice (the Ministry).

We acknowledge receipt of your request under the Official Information Act
1982. Specifically, you requested:

I would like information on murderers and murder victims, broken down by
ethnicity. Specially a cross-reference, so one can state that where the
murderer was a particular ethnicity, what was the ethnicity of the
victims.

 

Ideally this would be for the last ten years, but a shorter period is fine
is that is easier.

This has been forwarded onto the relevant business unit to respond to.

The Ministry may publish the response to your request on our website, you
can expect that if your OIA is to be published that this will take place
at least 10 working days after it has been sent you. Your name and any
other personal information will be withheld under Section 9(2)(a) (protect
the privacy of natural persons).

You can expect a response by 6 November 2025.

Ngā mihi nui,

 

Ministerial Services

   

Communications and Ministerial Services | Corporate Services

Ministry of Justice | Tāhū o te Ture [8]justice.govt.nz

 

 

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Tēnā koe David,

 

The Ministry of Justice (the Ministry) refers to your Official Information
Act 1982 (the Act) request of 8 October 2025, for data on murderers and
murder victims, broken down by ethnicity.

 

The Ministry is aware that an Ombudsman complaint was laid with regards to
our response below of 17 October 2025, as you are seeking information that
allows you to cross-reference the ethnicity of the perpetrator and the
victim.

 

The Ministry has since inquired with the New Zealand Police, who have
confirmed they are able to accept transfer of your request. As such, we
have transferred your request to the Police under section 14 of the Act.

 

You will hear further from the Police concerning your request. Should you
need to contact the Police, you can do so at:
[1][email address]

 

Ngā mihi,

 

  Communications and Ministerial Services | Corporate Services

Ministry of Justice | Tāhū o te Ture
Justice Centre | 19 Aitken Street, Wellington (6011)

[2][email address]

[3][email address]

[4][Ministry of Justice request email]

[5]justice.govt.nz

 

From: [6][Ministry of Justice request email] <[7][Ministry of Justice request email]>
Sent: Friday, 17 October 2025 11:52 am
To: '[FOI #32523 email]'
<[8][FOI #32523 email]>
Subject: Response to your request for information (Our ref: 126641)

 

Tēnā koe David,

 

Thank you for your email of 8 October 2025 to the Ministry of Justice
(the Ministry), requesting under the Official Information Act 1982 (the
Act), data on murderers and murder victims, broken down by ethnicity.
Specifically, you requested:

I would like information on murderers and murder victims, broken down by
ethnicity. Specially a cross-reference, so one can state that where the
murderer was a particular ethnicity, what was the ethnicity of the
victims.

Ideally this would be for the last ten years, but a shorter period is fine
is that is easier.

 

Data on the ethnicity of people convicted of murder is in Ministry
published data. Please refer to Table 2d of the attached excel spreadsheet
for this information.

 

The Ministry does not report on the data of victims. However, the New
Zealand Police does report on homicide victims. The Homicide Victims
Report 2023 provides data from 2007-2012 and does report on ethnicity. The
Historical NZ Murder Rate Report provides data from 1926-2023, however
does not report on ethnicity. Both reports can be found at: [9]Homicide
Victims Report 2023 and Historical NZ Murder Rate Report 1926-2023 | New
Zealand Police.

 

Your request is therefore being refused under section 18(d) of the Act, as
the information is publicly available. Please note that these data sources
do not cross-reference information of the victim or offender.

 

If you are not satisfied with this response, you have the right to make a
complaint to the Ombudsman under section 28 of the Act. The Office of the
Ombudsman may be contacted by phone on: 0800 802 602, by email at:
[10][email address], or via the webform: [11]Make a complaint
(for members of the public) | Ombudsman New Zealand.

 

Ngā mihi,

 

  Communications and Ministerial Services | Corporate Services

Ministry of Justice | Tāhū o te Ture
Justice Centre | 19 Aitken Street, Wellington (6011)

[12][email address]

[13][email address]

[14][Ministry of Justice request email]

[15]justice.govt.nz

 

 

From: [16][Ministry of Justice request email] <[17][Ministry of Justice request email]>
Sent: Thursday, October 9, 2025 8:28 AM
To: David Farrar <[18][FOI #32523 email]>
Subject: RE: Official Information request - Murder and Ethnicity (ref:
126641)

 

Tēnā koe David,

Thank you for emailing the Ministry of Justice (the Ministry).

We acknowledge receipt of your request under the Official Information Act
1982. Specifically, you requested:

I would like information on murderers and murder victims, broken down by
ethnicity. Specially a cross-reference, so one can state that where the
murderer was a particular ethnicity, what was the ethnicity of the
victims.

 

Ideally this would be for the last ten years, but a shorter period is fine
is that is easier.

This has been forwarded onto the relevant business unit to respond to.

The Ministry may publish the response to your request on our website, you
can expect that if your OIA is to be published that this will take place
at least 10 working days after it has been sent you. Your name and any
other personal information will be withheld under Section 9(2)(a) (protect
the privacy of natural persons).

You can expect a response by 6 November 2025.

Ngā mihi nui,

 

Ministerial Services

   

Communications and Ministerial Services | Corporate Services

Ministry of Justice | Tāhū o te Ture [19]justice.govt.nz

 

 

show quoted sections

Tēnā koe David,

 
I acknowledge receipt of your Official Information Act (OIA) request
below, transferred to NZ Police by The Ministry of Justice on 24 October
2025.

You can expect a response to your request on or before XX 2025 unless an
extension is needed.

 

Kind regards

 

 

Jonelle|Advisor: Ministerial Services |([1]she/her)

Policy & Partnerships |Police National Headquarters |

 

 

 

 

 

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