Judge Davis told the court it was an auspicious day in New Zealand legal history because it was the first time a full day had been dedicated to the Matariki Court. Matariki hearings had been held before at Kaikohe, where the new system for Maori offenders is being trialled, but always between ordinary district court hearings.
The Matariki Court was established in 2011 by the late Chief District Court Judge Russell Johnson in a bid to counter high imprisonment rates among young Maori. It allows people other than lawyers - such as whanau, hapu, community groups and victims - to have a say in court and help find ways to stop the offender returning to crime.
Unlike the usual district court process, most rehabilitation takes place before sentencing rather than after. One of its aims is to identify what triggers a person to commit crime (the "drivers of offending") and help the offender learn to deal with those influences.
During Kopa's Matariki hearing the courtroom was rearranged so everyone - police, lawyers, offender, family, social workers and victim - sat in a semicircle facing the judge.
Kopa was sentenced to five years' jail for aggravated robbery in 2008 - and sending him back to jail would do little to help him, his family or society in the long term.
"We are better off as a society with you addressing the drivers of your behaviour and addressing your demons ... We've chucked you in jail every other time you've got in trouble and it hasn't worked," Judge Davis said.
The signs from Kopa's rehab course were promising - social workers said he was conducting himself positively and "embracing his Ngatihinetanga" - but with 25 of the 28 weeks to go, it was too early to judge its success.
