[14] On 11 June 2018, Andrew Little announced that the Government would be abandoning its efforts to repeal the "three-strikes law" due to opposition from its coalition partner, the populist conservative New Zealand First.

[15][16] In mid–November 2021, Justice Minister Kris Faafoi announced that the Labour-majority government would be introducing legislation to repeal the majority of the Sentencing and Parole Reform Act 2010.

The bill's sponsor Faafoi and Labour MP Ginny Andersen argued that the existing three strikes legislation restricted judicial discretion when it came to sentencing.

By contrast, National MPs Bridges and Simon O'Connor, and ACT MP McKee accused the Government of going "soft on crime" and favouring criminals over victims.

Similarly, Green MP Elizabeth Kerekere welcomed the repeal of the "three strikes" legislation, arguing that it was "punitive rather than restorative justice and rehabilitation."

[4][5] In late November 2023, the newly-formed Sixth National Government and its ACT and New Zealand First coalition partners vowed to reinstate three-strikes legislation.