Violent crime has risen in the past calendar year, despite the Government's focus on law and order.
Police are due to release their crime figures for 2009 on Thursday.
Police Minister Judith Collins says the figures will show a rise in overall crime, particularly violent offences.
However, she says that does not mean the Government's crackdown on crime will not have an effect.
Ms Collins says the figures start from January last year, and some of the key law and order legislation did not come into effect until September.
She says methamphetamine and inter-generational welfare dependency are some of the factors behind the crime rate.
The minister says New Zealand has a violent society, and crime has been increasing in the past decade.
Prime Minister John Key says the Government is doing all it can to reduce crime.
He says the Government has carried out the most extensive anti-crime campaign in New Zealand's history and measures such as the introduction of tasers, strengthening anti-drug laws and bringing in more police officers will eventually show results.
