New Zealand’s version of ‘Three Strikes’ took effect on 1st June 2010.¹ From that date forward, offenders convicted of one of the 40 specified serious offences in the schedule², all of which are serious violent or sexual offences, and all of which carry a maximum term of imprisonment of seven years or more, receive a ‘strike’ warning. The offences subject to ‘strike’ warnings range from murder, manslaughter, sexual violation and kidnapping at the most serious end, to robbery, indecent assault, wounding with intent to injure and assault with intent to rob at the less serious end. Youth offenders are excluded. A strike can only be entered for an offence committed by a person aged 18 or older. But once entered, the strikes remain on the offender’s record unless the conviction is quashed. The strikes stay with the offender as a constant deterrent against future offending, and increasingly tough sentences if the offender is unwilling or unable to refrain from serious offending.