
Nga Kete Matauranga Pounamu Charitable Trust’s new service Huarahi HouIwi Community Panels will go live on Tuesday (27 February 2018) with its first panel.
The service, in collaboration with the New Zealand Police, is an alternative resolution process for low-level offenders, where offenders need to face their community to make things right, and agree to a level of reparation, and/or community service.
Referrals have been rolling in for the new service, which has seen more than 15 local community people from a wide range of interests train as panel members.
Nga Kete CEO Tracey Wright-Tawha says she is impressed with the calibre of panel members – a diverse cross-section of our local community and iwi leaders reflecting various genders, ages and levels of experience.
"I'm confident that the panels will make a difference to recidivist offending and improved outcomes involving reparation, community hours and life goal setting."