10. HONE HARAWIRA (Māori Party—Te Tai Tokerau) Link to this
to the Minister of Justice
He aha te whakaaro mō te whakatūtanga o tētahi Kooti Taiohi ki te Marae o Manurewa?
[What is the rationale behind establishing a Youth Court to sit at Manurewa Marae?]
Hon SIMON POWER (Minister of Justice) Link to this
The establishment of a Youth Court sitting at Manurewa Marae extends a judicially led initiative spearheaded in Gisborne. Marae-based youth court sittings involve the wider community in an attempt to enhance the usual Youth Court processes. They are designed to increase accountability and reduce reoffending. I am visiting Gisborne next week and look forward to observing the marae-based initiative in action.
Tēnā koe. E tautoko ana ia i tā Hōnore Tākuta Pita Sharples, hanga pakeke ake te marae i te Kooti mō rātou te hunga kua hāmenetia; ki te tautoko ia, he aha tāna ki te whakauru atu i tēnei momo tikanga ki ngā Kooti mō ngā Pakeke?
[An interpretation in English was given to the House.]
[Thank you. Does he support what Hon Dr Pita Sharples said that offenders held to account on a marae felt more comfortable in this setting than in a courtroom; if so, what will he do to include this kind of restorative justice in courts for adults?]
In respect of the second part of the question, which is in relation to expanding the initiative, as I said, this is a judicially led initiative. It is a matter for the Principal Youth Court Judge and the Chief District Court Judge to make those decisions and to decide on any expansion or otherwise in respect of this initiative. In respect of the first part of the question—the comments made by Dr Pita Sharples—anecdotally, that is similar to advice I have received.
Hoi nō. He aha te tino kaupapa i tū ai te marae hei Kooti, ā, kei hea ngā huruhuru kia rere ai tēnei manu?
[An interpretation in English was given to the House.]
[Indeed. What is the real purpose for making the marae a court, and where are the resources to make this happen?]
As members of the House will be aware, the Youth Court process itself still takes place in the normal court for all young people. The purpose of the marae-based Youth Court is to monitor the young person’s progress and compliance with the family group conference plan. The family group conference plan is approved by the judge at a formal sitting of the Youth Court. In respect of the issue relating to costs, currently the ministry provides a small budget of between about $5,000 and $10,000 in total per annum, to cover things such as the hiring of marae and other costs of those sittings.
Jacinda ArdernCan the Minister confirm that this announcement is based on the very successful trial of the Youth Court sitting on a marae in Gisborne, an initiative launched last year by Labour?
I can confirm that the Manurewa-based marae project, which has had some attention in the media today, is based on the initiative that is running in Gisborne. Although the marae-based Youth Court has been in place only since May 2008, anecdotal evidence suggests that young people participate more fully in the proceedings. There has been no formal evaluation done yet of the effectiveness of the initiative, but I watch it with interest.