The 'justus' system for Māori not good enough, Waitangi Tribunal told

Date: 24 August 2016

Closing statements at the Waitangi Tribunal case against Corrections called for immediate steps and a comprehensive review to address the high rate of Māori reoffending.

The Department of Corrections said reducing Māori reoffending is a priority and that they have room for improvement. Despite this they rejected all of the recommendations proposed by the claimant, Tom Hemopo and interested parties, including Moana Jackson and JustSpeak. They failed to come up with any practical steps they could take beyond what they are already doing to address reoffending with their 25% reduction target.

The Department argued that if they were going to achieve their overall target then there would automatically be a significant reduction for Māori. But while non-Māori are almost halfway to the target of a 25% reduction in the rate of reoffending, nothing has changed for Māori.

"It could not be clearer that the current Corrections approach is not working" says JustSpeak Chair Julia Whaipooti.

Over the course of the Tribunal the Department has had access to the leading experts in this area, including Dr Kim Workman, Dr Anne Opie, Moana Jackson and Dr Tracey McIntosh. These experts have worked together to recommend both immediate tangible steps that Corrections could take and a more fundamental review. "The Department has dismissed all of them" says Julia Whaipooti.

"I was born the year that Moana Jackson's landmark study of Māori and the criminal justice system was published" Julia Whaipooti says. "Since then we have lost another generation who could have benefited from the recommendations that he made. We can't wait another 28 years and another generation for change."

One issue of particular urgency is the high number of young Māori entering the prison system. One of the recommendations made was to raise the age of youth justice immediately to stem this flow and give young people an opportunity for a better future. "The disparity is getting worse. We need that change now" says Julia Whaipooti of JustSpeak.

Other recommendations included the development and implementation of a Māori strategy and specific targets to reduce Māori reoffending and setting up an independent body with relevant expertise to ensure that independent, transparent and accessible data are used appropriately to reduce disparities in reoffending.

Ultimately, however, systemic change is required to make a significant difference to the mass imprisonment of sections of Māori communities and beyond. Therefore, a comprehensive review of the Department of Corrections has been called for.

The hearing has now concluded and the Waitangi Tribunal will report their findings and any recommendations in due course for this urgent hearing.

ENDS

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