Ngāpuhi-led remand service connects young offenders with their culture

The Mahuru working group from Oranga Tamariki and Ngāpuhi Iwi Social Services at the Mahuru launch. Photo/Supplied

A new iwi-led remand service is aiming to reduce reoffending by keeping young Northland offenders in the region so they can connect with their culture.

Mahuru is a kaupapa Māori service which was launched on Monday to support young offenders who need to spend time away from home in a safe stable environment while they await their court hearing.

Aroha Tahere, Oranga Tamariki Youth Justice manager for Te Tai Tokerau, said until now the only option available to Oranga Tamariki, Police and the Youth and Rangatahi Court judges has been to place tamariki in facilities outside of the region.

"This increases their risk of reoffending and further disconnects them from their whānau and community," she said.

If a young person commits a crime in Te Tai Tokerau, they can be remanded into the custody of the chief executive of Oranga Tamariki by a Youth Court judge while they await their final court hearing.

"This is a period of uncertainty for them, and it's really important they receive the right support and stability to so they do not make any further bad decisions," Tahere said.

In the last financial year, 500 young people committed a crime serious enough to be remanded into the custody of Oranga Tamariki - 26 of these young people are Māori and live in Te Tai Tokerau.

Tahere said now when young people are remanded into the custody of Oranga Tamariki, they can be referred to Mahuru where they will be placed with carers who meet a specific criteria.

"Through Mahuru, tamariki will remain in te Whare Tapu o Ngāpuhi where they can learn more about their identity, rather than being sent out of the region to facilities where they have not existing connections or relationships," she said.

Tahere said two young people have been involved in Mahuru so far but it had been developed to support between three and five young people at any given time.

Tahere said on average placements are between four and six weeks but the length depends on a number of factors including the court date, and the Family Group Conference, which could result in a young person being granted bail by the judge and placed back with their whānau.