The Government's military-style bootcamp pilot is nearing an end and Oranga Tamariki executives are defending not releasing the level of re-offending. Video / Mark Mitchell
A participant in the Government’s bootcamp pilot has been kicked off the programme after appearing in court for alleged offending.
Oranga Tamariki acting deputy chief executive Iain Chapman confirmed a teen had been “withdrawn” from the military-style academy pilot and has been transferred to Corrections custody after acourt appearance.
“We can say that the team who have worked closely with them during the pilot are disappointed with the outcome for this young person, we are continuing to provide support and work alongside their whānau through this transition to the adult jurisdiction,” he said.
“Our focus is on ensuring the best outcome for the eight other young people as we progress towards the final weeks of the pilot.”
Chapman didn’t comment further, citing the ongoing court process.
The Herald understands the teen is no longer aged under 18 and as such, unable to be held in a youth justice residence.
Children’s Minister Karen Chhour has been approached for comment.
The 12-month pilot, which involved 10 recidivist youth offenders spending three months in a youth justice residence and nine months in the community, ends next month.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon maintained the pilot had been a “good initiative”, acknowledging its participants were “challenging young people” but he didn’t believe the state should “give up on them”.
“If they choose not to take that opportunity, that’s ultimately on them.”
He noted his desire to extend the residential phase of the academy as well as incorporate the “learnings” from the pilot into future academy programmes.
With just weeks to go until the pilot’s conclusion, the level of reoffending by the pilot’s now eight participants has been kept hidden by Chhour and Oranga Tamariki.
Children's Minister Karen Chhour, flanked by Oranga Tamariki chief executive Andrew Bridgman, left, and deputy chief executive Iain Chapman during a select committee hearing. Photo / Mark Mitchell
They have argued the teens deserved privacy amid an increased focus due to their involvement in the pilot, while opponents to the programme - largely members of Opposition parties - demanded transparency given the pilot was set up in part to curb youth crime.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins claimed the pilot had been a “disaster” and alleged the majority of participants had reoffended.
“If the number one goal is to reduce young people’s reoffending, bootcamps aren’t working.”
In response to surging youth crime, the previous Labour Government created a “circuit breaker” programme designed to intervene early after a young person’s offending with the hope it would prevent further offending.
Hipkins acknowledged about a quarter of participants went on to reoffend, which he described as a “good start”.
Two weeks ago, Chhour and Oranga Tamariki officials fronted a select committee hearing and refused to tell MPs how many participants had reoffended.
Chhour would not confirm whether a new report showing six participants had been interviewed in a youth justice residence, when they were supposed to be living in the community, meant six had reoffended.
She instead spoke of how the tragic death of one of the participants in a car crash last year derailed his associates.
“I would have to say the death of one of the participants did cause a lot of grief and did derail some of these young people mentally.”
After the death, there were several absconding incidents involving participants, including one fleeing after the boy’s tangi was held.
Chhour would not be drawn on whether the pilot could be considered a success, noting its final evaluation hadn’t occurred.
Speaking to the Herald after the select committee hearing, Chapman said he could not underestimate how impactful the teen’s death was for his fellow participants.
“A key watershed moment happened in that death, which changed everything for us.
“From that point on, it was really key for us as professionals, the social workers looking after these kids, that we did everything we could to take the spotlight away from them.”
Adam Pearse is the Deputy Political Editor and part of the NZ Herald’s Press Gallery team based at Parliament in Wellington. He has worked for NZME since 2018, reporting for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei and the Herald in Auckland.
