New Zealand’s 15th Kōti Rangatahi will open next month in Whangārei.
To be hosted by Terenga Parāoa Marae, the new Rangatahi Court will be opened with a ceremony on 24 February.
“This is a significant addition to the approaches available to the Youth Court in Whangārei for delivering effective interventions to address the underlying causes of offending,” said Principal Youth Court Judge John Walker.
“Whangārei Terenga Parāoa Marae is part of an inclusive marae complex that allows Māori of the district to come together, and we hope that a Rangatahi Court there will provide an alternative for young people and their whānau, hapū and iwi,” he said.
Rangatahi Courts offer rehabilitative care for youth offenders, focusing on reconnecting them to their cultural identity. It also involves the local Māori community in the process.
The first Rangatahi Court was established in Gisborne in 2008. The courts are part of the Youth Court.
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