4. RAHUI KATENE (Māori Party—Te Tai Tonga) Link to this
to the Minister for Social Development and Employment
What are the expected outcomes of the Fresh Start approach?
Hon PAULA BENNETT (Minister for Social Development and Employment) Link to this
We want to break cycles of youth offending.
What assurances can the Minister give that iwi Māori can be involved in managing programmes and services to address serious recidivist offending by children and young people?
Hon PAULA BENNETT Link to this
The increased involvement of Māori providers is a priority. I have made a commitment to broaden the range of providers. This will be done by consulting with both the Māori Party and Māori in general.
Hon Annette KingHas the Minister seen reports, both internationally and in New Zealand, that show that the use of military-style corrective training has led to a 94.5 percent rate of reoffending, and that such programmes have been unsuccessful? Can she confirm that the Government’s programme for 40 youths is nothing more than window dressing?
Hon PAULA BENNETT Link to this
No, I have not seen reports like that. I have seen reports that say that if we work with young people over a long period of time, and if that work includes mentoring programmes, parenting orders, getting into family and whānau, making the work eyeball to eyeball, and making it really mean something, we can turn these young people around.
Hon PAULA BENNETT Link to this
We are committed to working long term. The work we have been doing is not working for those thousand worst young offenders; we have to do it differently. This will be done over a period of time, and it will be done in different ways for different individuals. We recognise that Māori have different needs, and we will be implementing programmes that will have a real effect.