National Party leader Christopher Luxon says the Government’s aim to reduce the prison population by 30 per cent is causing an increase in violent crime.

Luxon made the comments during a visit to Tauranga today, after being questioned about the Auckland shooting which took place yesterday.

The Auckland shooter, who was on home detention and had a history of family violence, died at the scene after a shoot-out with police, after killing two civilians with a pump-action shotgun.

Speaking to media at Mercury Bay Park, the National Party leader says the Government target to reduce the prison population is causing more violent criminals to receive home detention sentences.

“The problem with the Government having this as their sole target and goal in the justice and law and order space is it filters down through the Judiciary and results in lighter sentences.

Tauranga MP Sam Uffindell, left and National Party Bay of Plenty candidate Tom Rutherford, right, joined Luxon while speaking to media today. Photo: Taylor Rice/SunLive.

“We would all love a 30 per cent reduction in the prison population, if we had a 30 per cent reduction in crime.

The problem is, according to Luxon, New Zealand has seen a 33 per cent increase in violent crime.

"The prison population is a consequence of what is happening with crime, not the other way around.”

Luxon adds there are now “many cases” where sentences given to violent criminals “doesn’t befit” the crime committed, due to the Government’s goal of reducing the prison population.

In the case of the Auckland gunman, Luxon says people “should be asking” how someone with a “violent criminal past” and a “three year potential jail time sentence” was able to end up with a five month home detention sentence, and "carry on with work with access to a firearm".

Although Luxon says the Government's goal is causing a increase in violent crime, Minister of Corrections Kelvin Davis says corrections "does not decide" who is sent to prison, and does not decide how long they are sentenced for, or if they are released early.

"[The decision] at the discretion of a Judge and the Parole Board," says Davis.

Minister of Corrections Kelvin Davis. Photo: RNZ.

"When we became Government in 2017 there was a prison population crisis. 

"It’s been reduced by about 20 per cent since then, with the majority of that reduction coming from non-violent offences such as drug offending.

"We haven’t changed any sentencing laws except for removing the flawed Three Strikes law because there was no evidence to show it increased public safety.

"The number of people on home detention has stayed stable during the past 10 years. At the end of last month the current number of people serving a home detention sentence was lower than at the same time in 2017."

Luxon is due to speak in Mount Maunganui tonight at 6.30pm with National Bay of Plenty candidate Tom Rutherford as part of the party's 'Get NZ Back on Track' series of public meetings.

Those who wish to attend are able to do so by visiting Classic Flyers Museum at 9 Jean Batten Drive.