40 H U M A N R I G H T S COMMISSION | A FAIR GO FOR ALL? crime. Additionally, police can become burnt out when dealing with negative aspects of society and appreciate the focus on positive, proactive and community-oriented If the programme meets its potential, it will have many related benefits for communities beyond crime reduction. One police staffer interviewed suggested a study on the correlation between the Neighbourhood Policing programme and an increase in property values, as a measure of the success of the programme. to its potential for success: 1. Commitment from Government to address the over-representation of young Mäori in the justice system by providing the best possible rehabilitative response. The Courts encourage strong cultural links and meaningfully involving local Mäori communities in the youth justice process, while monitoring a young person’s are now ten Rangatahi Courts operating on marae around the country. Based on interviews with police staff following factors can be highlighted as key youth court process in a Mäori cultural setting. The aim is progress using a Family Group Conferencing process. There Factors for success other reports on the programme, the Rangatahi and Pasifika Youth Courts Rangatahi Courts are an initiative that locates part of the initiatives. involved in Neighbourhood Policing and Case study 2: What we know is that young Mäori who are connected to their identity and culture don’t offend anymore that non Mäori.189 Ministers, police senior management and police staff involved. 2. Ensuring diversity in the police force as a tool to build relationships with local communities through shared language and culture. Pasifika Youth Courts are based on the Rangatahi Court concept and aim to improve outcomes for Pacific youth. An important aim of the initiative is to develop a partnership between the Court and the Pacific community. One Pasifika Youth Court has been established at a Pacific cultural centre in Mangere. Rangatahi and Pasifika Youth Courts encourage more involvement for whänau and community in the justice process. In his keynote speech at the opening of Manurewa 3. Neighbourhood Policing teams are deployed based on Marae Rangatahi Court in 2009, Judge Becroft said “What which communities have greatest need. Community we know is that young Mäori who are connected to their needs are then understood better through face-to-face identity and culture don’t offend any more than non- surveys. Mäori.”189 Community connections are key “to make justice 4. Partnership with other government agencies, community and community leaders. Sustainability what it should be – a partnership between the courts and the community, each dependent on the other.”190 The Courts are not a separate system of justice for Mäori and Pacific peoples but a way of using the marae or Neighbourhood Policing teams are intended to be a cultural centre and tikanga Mäori or Pacific culture within long-term, sustainable way to prevent and reduce the Youth Court legal structure. The Courts monitor the crime. The sustainability of the initiative is based on young person’s progress through a family group conference the meaningful relationships developed through the plan. This involves frequent judicial reviews (fortnightly programme’s preventative focus to crime. As well as an in most cases) by the same judge, allowing a relationship ongoing commitment from the Police, the sustainability to build between the judge and young person. So far, of Neighbourhood Policing is in part reliant on leadership only those young people who admit the charge(s) they from communities and partnership with other government are facing are offered the opportunity to have their next agencies. hearing on the marae or at the Pasifika Youth Court.