Service News

HUARAHI HOU IWI COMMUNITY PANELS

(MURIHIKU)

November 2017

Turning The Tide Nga Kete Matauranga Pounamu Charitable Trust is launching a new service Huarahi Hou Iwi Community Panels in collaboration with the New Zealand Police and local Iwi, as an alternative resolution process for low-level offenders. Nga Kete Chief Executive Officer Tracey Wright-Tawha says the agency is aiming to steer whanau away from entering a criminal conviction pathway with the establishment of Iwi Community Panels. “We are aiming to provide an alternative resolution platform where offenders need to face their community to make things right, and agree to a level of reparation.” Note: People who are referred to the ICP are referred to as participants. Police can refer a participant to the ICP if they are aged 17 years or over, the offence carries six

months’ imprisonment or less (and is not an offence related to family violence or methamphetamine use) and the participant admits guilt. ICPs aim to target offences that can be resolved without charge and prosecution and where a pre-charge warning is not considered a sufficient response. The participant will come before a panel made up of trained volunteers, and an independent observer takes notes and minutes the process. Nga Kete’s newly appointed ICP coordinator Mana Wright will oversee facilitation of ICP panels, keep all parties informed, and follow reparation through to completion. In addition, Mana will assist by linking participants to Whanau Ora navigational approaches so goal setting can take place and pathway plans created. This can assist the individual in transformational change moving towards improved wellbeing and independence i.e. employment, training and health. The process involves a meeting between panel members, the participant and whanau to discuss the offence committed. If there is a victim, they are also given the opportunity to attend. The panels take a problem-solving approach, decide the level of reparation, i.e. community work, fine etc, and makes recommendations set to address factors that contribute to offending, and redress the harm caused by the offending. The panels have been a success in other parts of the country. A 2012 Police evaluation of the Christchurch Community Justice Panel found that it was an effective alternative to the criminal justice system, with indications that reoffending was reduced and that restitution orders were almost always followed. Police Inspector Damion Rangitutia, Maori Responsiveness Manager – Southern District, acknowledges whilst there is still a way to go in the co-design, development and implementation stages of this project, police are working closely with Nga Kete to ensure the expectations from all stake holders involved are managed accordingly. “I am excited about the opportunity this initiative presents given the positive outcomes experienced by similar panels over the country.”

What Does A Panel Member Do?

Create a safe and welcoming environment.

Draw on the wisdom of their professional, personal, community and cultural experiences to effect positive change.

Provide offenders with the opportunity to reflect on the seriousness of their offence and challenging them when required.

Ask questions designed to elicit a holistic picture of the offender and their environment (for example, reasons for the

offence, support networks, financial position and transport).

Negotiates an offender plan appropriate for the offence that supports offenders on a pathway to change.

https://www.justice.govt.nz - Iwi Panels Evaluation Report

Training Where? Te Tomairangi Marae, 54 Eye Street, Invercargill

When? Wednesday 06 December 2017, 10am-3pm

Trainers

Mana Wright – Iwi Community Panel Co-ordinator

Simon Kairau - Police Kaitakawaenga Iwi Liaison Officer Simon Kairau

Sharleen Carran – Whanau Ora Navigator (Pathway plans)

Tracey Wright-Tawha – NKMP CEO

Iwi Community Panels currently operate in Christchurch, Wellington, Manakau and Gisborne.

Iwi Community Panels are an alternative resolution process for low-level offenders. Focusing on education,

prevention and accountability. Service provided by Nga Kete Matauranga Pounamu Charitable Trust in partnership

with police, local iwi and the wider community.

What are Iwi Community Panels?

ICP are a community-led alternative to court for low-level offenders.

Offenders (known as participants) appear in front of a panel of three volunteer community members.

Inquisitive hearing with a purpose of discovering the underlying reasons for offending and determine outcomes to

address these - We want to affect long-term social and behavioral change to reduce reoffending.

Eligible participants avoid court and conviction.

Who is eligible?

Police can refer a participant to the ICP if they are aged 17 years or over, the offence carries six months’

imprisonment or less (and is not an offence related to family violence or methamphetamine use) and the

participant admits guilt.

Police have full discretion as to whether they choose to refer to ICP as opposed to diversion or court.

ICP is completely voluntary, participants have every right to plead their innocence and pursue it through court

instead.

Who can be a panel member?

Anyone aged over 17 years.

A prominent community member with a desire to create change.

An ability to treat all participants the same and with respect and dignity.

A diversity of age, ethnicity and gender.

Training will be provided to all panel members.

Who participates in hearings?

Victims are always consulted, invited to attend and encouraged to bring whanau.

The panel of three, an observer and a police officer will be present, to answer questions of law and to provide

relevant information when appropriate.

What are the outcomes?

Nga Kete is a social services hub with the ability to refer internally and externally i.e. Addictions Service, Whanau

Ora, parenting courses etc).

Outcomes should be tailored to each participant and should address their reasons for offending. Education and

prevention – Not punishment.

Reparation.

Apology letters.

Community work.

Educational course (defensive driving, driver licensing, Frontline etc.)

After the hearing the ICP co-ordinator will decide the timeframe the participant has to complete the tasks. In the

weeks following the hearing the ICP co-ordinator will work with the participant to help them complete their

outcomes.

The Biggest Change in Justice For Low-Level Offending “This is the biggest change in justice that I can see that’s going to have an impact on less Maori incarceration, giving a lot of people the opportunity to stay out of the system.” Those were the words of Police Deputy Commissioner Wally Haumaha, who visited Nga Kete this week, along with several police colleagues, to talk about Iwi Community Panels and ensure the necessary systems and people were in place to guarantee its success in the south. Nga Kete Matauranga Pounamu Charitable Trust is launching the new service Huarahi Hou (New Directions) Iwi Community Panels in collaboration with the New Zealand Police and local iwi, as an alternative resolution process for low-level offenders. In his presentation to police and Nga Kete staff Mr Haumaha said Iwi Community Panels are a great opportunity to reduce reoffending or to look at taking people out of the criminal justice system, and look at how the panel can work with an offender around changing behavior. Iwi Community Panels have been operating in three areas since 2014 (Gisborne, Manakau and Wellington), and in Christchurch since 2009 and were implemented because of the volume of Maori in the justice system. “We would like to see a 25% reduction in Maori reoffending by 2025. That’s a huge, lofty goal but it’s one we think we can achieve by working with key providers such as Nga Kete and other organizations across the country. These organizations have really stood up and shown their willingness to be able to work and provide the right services in the right places to direct and challenge people into something positive where they can have better outcomes in their life.” The programme has shown a reduction in reoffending within the 17-24 year age bracket of 11.9%. This was also a cost saving to the Government. For every $1 Government invested in the programme there was a return of $5.96, he said. The panels have provided tons of inspirational stories. Mr Haumaha gave an example of a young woman who had committed a theft offence. Rather than placing her back into the court system she was referred to the panel, where she walked into the room with “the swagger”, the defiant and anti-authority look, and slouched in the chair. The panel members, rather than talk about her offence, discussed her wellbeing, her whakapapa, where she come from and what her family do. Through this it was revealed her partner had been beating her and sending her out to steal food and clothing for their three-year-old son, as well as money for his drug addiction. With whanau support the young lady broke down. She was just a young person looking for help. The panel provided her with Whanau Ora services, looked after her tamariki and gave her options to put the child into Kohanga Reo. Mr Haumaha is excited about expanding and said by the end of December there should be at least 10 Iwi Community Panels operating throughout the country.