Public Meeting in West Auckland on March 13
Venkat Raman, Auckland, March 5, 2019
Are you happy with the current Justice System in New Zealand?
Are you satisfied with the delivery of Justice- its speed, its approach and its scope?
What are the changes that you would like to see?
You could ask these and other questions at a public meeting of the ‘Safe and Effective Justice Advisory Group’ (Te Uepu Hapai i te Ora) on Wednesday, March 13, 2019 at New Lynn Community Centre, 45 Totara Avenue, New Lynn in West Auckland.
The Group
Constituted by the Government, the Group, chaired by Chest Borrows, a former Deputy Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament and a National Party MP, comprises stakeholders representing a cross-section of the society.
Among them are Dr Jarrod Gilbert (Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Canterbury), Quentin Hix (Leading Defence Lawyer and Director, Ngai Tahu Holdings Corporation), Dr Carwyn Jones (Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law, Victoria University), Professor Tracey McIntosh (Professor of Indigenous Studies and Co-Head of Te Wananga O Waipapa), Ruth Money (A Victims’ Advocate), Shila Nair (National Coordinator, Shakti), Julia Whaipooti (Senior Advisor at the Office of the Children’s Commissioner) and Dr Warren Young (General Manager, Independent Police Conduct Authority).
Comprehensive Coverage
Mr Borrows said that the public meeting aims to hear from people who have experienced the Criminal Justice System, as victims of crime or those who have committed crimes, and the groups who work in or with it every day.
The Group is independent of the Government, tasked to understand public opinion on the current Justice system and their expectations.
The Group’s work is about informing the Government’s drive to keep all New Zealand communities safer by enhancing the Criminal Justice System, he said.
“This is a chance to make a big difference to our Criminal Justice System and we are all looking forward to hearing what New Zealanders want and expect from it. We have had a great response and lots of ideas presented to us in meetings that we have held in other centres including South Auckland last year, and we are excited about engaging independently in West Auckland with those with lived-experience and key stakeholders to form strategic recommendations for the Government,” he said.
Submissions online
Mr Borrows said that the Group would like to hear from as many people as possible and would consider all feedback, in whatever form and report to the Justice Minister.
People are also encouraged to submit their experiences and ideas to the Group at
www.safeandeffectivejustice.govt.nz
Or contact them directly at te_uepu@justice.govt.nz
