City's restorative practices in spotlight

MP Chester Borrows Photo/File

Whanganui MP Chester Borrows says the upcoming Restorative City conference was a great chance to showcase Wanganui's role as a world leader in restorative practices.

Mr Borrows said restorative practices, whether in schools, workplaces or the justice system, have huge potential to help build stronger, more resilient, and happier communities.

"To give one example, when used to resolve disputes restorative practices are quicker, fairer, cheaper, and the resolutions more enduring than an adversarial, court-type process," he said.

"Wanganui is at the cutting-edge of this work in New Zealand, and is getting international attention for it."

The conference, from the morning of Friday March 28 until lunchtime the next day at Heritage House, brings together NZ and international experts on restorative practices. They include keynote speaker Dr Jennifer Llewellyn of Dalhousie University in Canada, and Rethinking Crime and Punishment founder Dr Kim Workman.

"As well as being a chance for Wanganui to strut its stuff, the conference is also a fantastic opportunity for Wanganui locals to learn what all the fuss is about," Mr Borrows said.

"With so many leading figures in restorative practices on our doorstep, I'm encouraging business and community leaders to come along and see how restorative practices can help improve the way they do their business."

He said a restorative approach to disputes with Government agencies, or between employers and employees, had benefits for productivity, timeliness and cost.

For more information on the conference go to www.restorativepracticeswhanganui.co.nz.