Maori Development and Whanau Ora Minister Te Ururoa Flavell applauds the local Maori community and the judiciary for establishing a Kooti Rangatahi in Tauranga.

The 13th Rangatahi Court in the country was launched at Hairini Marae in Tauranga today.

Te Ururoa Flavell is pleased Kooti Rangatahi has been established in Tauranga.

'A large proportion of our young people who end up in the justice system are disconnected from their culture. Kooti Rangatahi offers them a unique opportunity to reconnect with their whanau, kaumatua and marae,” says Te Ururoa.

At the opening of the Kooti Rangatahi in Tauranga, Te Ururoa acknowledged Principal Youth Court Judge Andrew Beecroft, the Maori judges and kaumatua who are instrumental in establishing these courts.

The marae-based process works within the existing Youth Court framework but requires young people to stand up in a marae, in front of their whanau and their kaumatua and account for what they have done.

'This tikanga and manaaki-based process is in synch with Whanau Ora. Whanau Ora is premised on the idea that with the appropriate support in place, whanau can control their own destiny and take responsibility for their own development.

'I see many opportunities for those working in the youth justice sector to work alongside Whanau Ora collectives and commissioning agencies,” says Te Ururoa.

Responses from young people and families to Kooti Rangatahi have been overwhelmingly positive.

Justice Ministry research shows rangatahi and whanau feel the process validates the mana of the young people and their whanau, while still holding them accountable and responsible.

'Ultimately we would wish for Kooti Rangatahi not to be necessary at all but as a successful model I welcome the establishment of further Kooti Rangatahi in other regions and the evolution of Kooti Whanau.”

Background

Rangatahi Courts sit in 13 locations around New Zealand.

As of December 31, 2014, 1,099 young people have had their Family Group Conference plan monitored on a marae since the first court opened in Gisborne in 2008.

In December 2012, the Ministry of Justice released an initial evaluation that indicated the Courts were successfully bringing whanau, hapu and iwi together with young offenders to attempt to address the underlying causes of their offending. The Courts have also help connect young Māori with positive role-models within their community.