A youth worker network group said the "get tough" message has already gone too far with the recent stabbings in South Auckland.
New Zealand Aotearoa Adolescent Health and Development executive officer Sarah Helm said two families are mourning the loss of their youth after two separate stabbing incidents
in South Auckland over the weekend.
"One of these young people has had their life ended - the ultimate in punishments - for what is essentially a minor crime tagging a property," Ms Helm said.
"The get tough approach, has been shown to be ineffective in a number of studies. What we need now is calm and respectful discussion of this very sensitive issue," she said.
She said the accused in one of the murders is over 50 but it would be "ludicrous" to think about boot camps for 50 year-olds.
Ms Helm said young people need hope, fulfillment, positive role models, and connection in their communities.
"The real answer to this is not a simple knee-jerk reaction. There has been some really good research into what helps to improve a young persons life course and divert them from crime - and we should all be taking stock of such information," Ms Helm said.
Meanwhile, Rethinking Crime and Punishment - a joint venture between the Salvation Army and Prison Fellowship New Zealand - has come out in support of Mr Key's proposed Fresh Start programme.
Rethinking Crime and Punishment project leader Kim Workman said the programme would promise to use the most advanced expertise in youth offending that New Zealand has to offer.
"While it's a bit of a stretch to call the programme revolutionary, the concept is good and based on sound behavioural change principles. One of the reasons for the failure of earlier programs of this kind has been the lack of support and mentoring after the offender completes the sentence. The policy has recognised this as an issue, and that's a promising start," Mr Workman said.
He said labelling the programme a boot camp was a mistake.
"The successful programs of this kind, such as the Pro-Active Venture in Papatoetoe and the Limited Services Volunteers Program at Burnham, bear no resemblance to the old style boot camps which believed that a negative, punishment oriented, short, sharp shock was the answer," Mr Workman said.
He said the boot camp type programmes have been proven not to work and usually result in re-offending.
