Criminal convictions are rising and fewer people are appearing in court, the government says.

Justice Minister Judith Collins is citing the latest court data which she says shows the government's crime reduction policies are working.

"The proportion of charges resulting in a conviction has increased from 70 per cent in 2008 to 74 per cent in 2012," she said on Tuesday.

"Recorded crime continues to fall - we have the lowest crime rate since 1982 - and the flow-on effect is that we are seeing fewer criminal charges laid and fewer people in court."

Conviction and sentencing statistics for the year to June 2012 show:

• The number of criminal charges laid in court continues to decrease, down eight per cent since June 2011

• The number of people charged in court is also down eight per cent since June 2011

• The number of children and young people charged with an offence has decreased across most offence types.

"I'm particularly pleased to see fewer children and young people being charged with an offence and appearing in court - down by as much as 25 per cent on last year," Ms Collins said.