recommended Aotearoa New Zealand prioritise child poverty in its national plan of action on human rights.16 The Government will be asked what it is doing to address child inequalities when it next reports to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child in 2015. Addressing inequalities in the criminal justice system Mäori remain disproportionately represented in the criminal justice system, as both offenders and victims. These inequalities are long-standing and complex and have been identified by both the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) and in New Zealand’s Universal Periodic Review as a major concern. The Government has demonstrated a commitment to tackling these entrenched inequalities. For example, in 2009 it adopted Addressing the Drivers of Crime, an initiative to address the underlying causes of criminal offending and to share responsibility across a range of government agencies and service providers. Court statistics show that in the last 5 years the number of children and young people charged has decreased by 45 per cent.17 Iwi and Police are also joining together to implement an innovative strategy aimed at reducing Mäori victimisation, offending, road fatalities and injuries. The Turning of the Tide – a Whänau Ora Crime and Crash Prevention Strategy was launched in 2012.18 The strategy draws on crime and crash reduction plans prepared by Ngäti Whätua, Te Arawa and Ngäpuhi and aims to ensure that all Mäori live full and prosperous lives, free from crime and road trauma. Building on these two initiatives, the Government launched its Youth Crime Action Plan in October 2013. This 10-year plan has an emphasis on outcomes for Mäori young people and seeks to reduce crime and help those who offend to turn their lives around. Ngä köti rangatahi: a revolution in youth justice A Whānau Ora Crime and Crash Prevention Strategy 2012/13 2017/18 PLC296 Iwi strategy A.indd 1 to ensure this plan is completed and the young person, their family and community are empowered and supported to fulfil the actions in the plan. The 2013 report Evaluation of the Early Outcomes of Ngä Köti Rangatahi19 endorses the success of Rangatahi Courts in strengthening relationships between youth justice professionals, rangatahi, whänau and marae communities. It also shows an increase in positive attitudes and improved behaviour among Mäori youth offenders. At a national hui on the future of the youth justice system, Judge Andrew Becroft praised Rangatahi Courts describing them as a revolution in youth justice and a step towards developing a more culturally appropriate response for dealing with Mäori offenders.20 Around 300 people attended the hui at Örakei Marae to discuss the outcome of the evaluation of these courts. Those attending the hui said that the report had contributed to a groundswell of enthusiasm for building on the success of Rangatahi Courts. Rangatahi Courts have been established to address discrimination and reduce the disproportionate involvement of young Mäori in the youth justice system by linking Mäori young offenders with their culture and the local Mäori community. The first Rangatahi Court was set up in 2008. Since then nine more have been established, along with two Pasifika Youth Courts. Mäori and Pacific education strategies renewed The Rangatahi Court process focuses on those young people who admit their offending and who have an appropriate family group conference plan in place. It aims Inequalities in educational achievement continue to be highest for Mäori and Pacific students and students from the lowest socio-economic groups. However, concerted 30 30/11/12 11:54 AM