Minister of Justice
MEDIA STATEMENT
12 July 2018
Fixing our broken justice system: first steps
Justice Minister Andrew Little has revealed the first steps in fixing our broken criminal justice system, so we can make
communities safer.
“This Government believes New Zealand should be the best place in the world to live and raise a family. Our justice
system must play its part in that. We are determined to confront the challenges with a hope and belief that we can and
should do better for whānau and communities today, and for future generations.
“I’m hosting a Criminal Justice Summit, Hāpaitia Te Oranga Tangata, the Safe and Effective Justice Programme from August
20 to the 22nd.
“The Summit will be launched by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern from Parliament’s Banquet Hall on August the 20th. The
remainder of the Summit will be at Te Rauparaha Arena in Porirua.
“Today I’m also announcing the establishment of a specialist advisory group, the Safe and Effective Justice Programme
Advisory Group – Te Uepū Hāpai i te Ora, to work alongside Justice Sector agencies on a prudent and realistic scope for
effective criminal justice reform.
“The Advisory Group brings together people with practical working experience of the realities of our broken criminal
justice system. Former minister Hon Chester Borrows will chair, working alongside independent victims’ advocate Ruth
Money, and Julia Whaipooti, Dr Warren Young, Professor Tony Ward, Professor Tracey McIntosh, Dr Carwyn Jones and Dr
Jarrod Gilbert.
“New Zealand needs less offending, less re-offending, and fewer victims of crime. We can’t continue to have one of the
highest re-offending rates in the OECD.
“Real change means we have to do things differently. The Summit provides a start to honest conversations as a country,
supported by real evidence. The Summit will bring together victims, victims’ advocates, front-line workers with
different backgrounds and experience in the criminal justice system, and experts in criminal justice.
“Hāpaitia Te Oranga Tangata is about having the guts to look honestly at our slide towards an American-style justice
system, and fixing things so we can have safer Kiwi communities,” says Andrew Little.
Notes for media:
The Ministry of Justice has just launched an interactive website designed to help all New Zealanders who want to improve
our criminal justice system.
Go online and register interest to attend the Criminal Justice Summit, Hāpaitia Te Oranga Tangata. The website will
provide information and updates: www.safeandeffectivejustice.govt.nz
ends