Unique remand service aims to break cycle
The first remand scheme for teen offenders in New Zealand hopes to break the cycle of Nga¯puhi being the most incarcerated group in prison.
With Nga¯puhi making up about a quarter of the adult prison population and about twothirds of young people reoffending within two years of entering Youth Court proceedings, a new programme called Mahuru hopes to turn the statistics around.
Mahuru, the new Tai Tokerau Youth Remand Service, was launched at Kohewhata Marae in Kaikohe earlier this month.
Nga¯ puhi Iwi Social Services in conjunction with Oranga Tamariki will work with the offenders in a programme which includes exploring their connections to Nga¯ puhi, and provides drug and alcohol workshops, health checks and outdoor living skills in an effort to stop reoffending.
Young people on remand are awaiting their next Youth Court appearance and until now were placed in youth justice residences in Auckland before their next court date.
Nga¯puhi Iwi Social Services general manager Liz Marsden said about 40 young Nga¯puhi were remanded each year to youth residences in Auckland where they had the opportunity to mix with convicted offenders.
‘‘We felt that was an extreme response with the potential to mix with more sophisticated and convicted offenders,’’ Marsden said. ‘‘That could lead to becoming institutionalised and possibly ending up in the adult prison system.’’
Registered social workers will work with the youth, aged 14 to 17, in the programme during the week, with trained and approved caregivers housing the young people at night.
Tai Tokerau MP Kelvin Davis supports the new approach.
‘‘Just repeating the mistakes of the past is just a waste of time, energy and resources.’’
It was really important this partnership is happening, he said.
‘‘I think the Government has to find ways to support the public sector and ministries to create partnerships together.
‘‘When Ma¯ ori do well, it’s good for the whole country.’’
Davis said of the approximately 10,000 people in the adult prison system, about 50 per cent were Ma¯ ori and about 50 per cent of those were from Nga¯ puhi.
Youth Justice manager for Oranga Tamariki in Te Tai Tokerau Aroha Tahere said remand was a period of uncertainty for youth.
‘‘It’s really important they receive the right support and stability so they do not make any further bad decisions.
‘‘A young person could be referred to Mahuru and placed with Nga¯ puhi caregivers.
‘‘The young person is first assessed on the level and nature of their offending, their mental health, and any concerning behaviours, to ensure it is a safe option for everyone involved including the young person, kaimanaaki, any victim/s of their offence, and the community.
‘‘Through Mahuru, tamariki will remain in te Whare Tapu o Nga¯puhi where they can learn more about their identity, rather than being sent out of the region to facilities where they have no existing connections or relationships.’’
Lady Heeni Phillips-Williams from the Sir Peter Williams QC Penal Reform League said the league applauded the joint venture. ‘‘It will require hard mahi and dedication from those working at the accommodation level but these initiatives are the type that must be encouraged not only by Oranga Tamariki and the Government but by Northland Ma¯ ori tribal social service and marae groups – in order to keep youth away from the clutches of bad and bizarre prison culture.
‘‘Prisons are mere breeding grounds for further involvement in crime where recruitment dens for gang involvement are the order of the day.’’