Violent crime has risen sharply in NZ?

Has anyone else noticed this in the last few months in particular
What the hell is going on here?????

Driver: I used to think we had less crime ,but seriously per capita im beginning to think that we are leading the way.......murders ,stabbings ,mindless violent attacks on the elderly or innocent....we are like "little america" now

Certainly seems that way listening to the news - stabbings every week-end - or every other day for that matter.
Possibly the increase in P and other drugs.

More crime is being reported.
We still have alot less crime than nearly all other countries, and also alot more respect for the Police (Despite some recent ratbags in their numbers getting caught recently).
But, I think that because of respect for our police, more people are reporting things that previously they might not have bothered with. The almost immediate access to cellphones probably aids this.
And the newspapers are always looking for good headlines. Minor crimes will now be bellowed from front pages because its the stuff that sells papers. So they are responsible in part for what seems to be an increase in crime.
Driver T