Hawke’s Bay Te Pae Oranga Iwi/Community Panel launched

Police are pleased to announce the launch of Ngāti Kahungunu Te Pae Oranga Iwi/Community Panel in partnership with Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga. This is the second iwi panel for the Eastern District and the 10th panel nationwide.
 
Te Pae Oranga was officially launched at Parliament earlier this year, following successful pilot programmes in Lower Hutt, Gisborne, and Counties Manukau.
 
“This Panel will be a game changer for the Hawke’s Bay area,” says District Commander, Superintendent Tania Kura.
 
“It’s an opportunity for Police to work with respected community members to come up with meaningful difference for our community. 
 
“The panel will then consider the best course of action for all involved; the victim, the offender and the whole whanau.”
 
For a person to be referred to an iwi panel the crime must have a penalty of less than six months in prison, so long as they fit the criteria and had admitted responsibility for the offence. 
 
Superintendent Kura says the panel ensures offenders are held accountable for their actions, and that any underlying causes of the behaviours that drive offending are addressed. 
 
“Addressing the causes can include anything from training or education, budgeting advice, or other interventions,” she says. 
 
“As part of the Panel process, any victims are invited to take part and contribute to the discussion. This ensures the impacts of offending are understood and the Panel is able to determine an appropriate way to repair the harm caused.
 
“The benefits of this holistic approach is to ensure that the harm caused is acknowledged and addressed as is the causes of the offending and the participant has the necessary support in place to continue on the path to becoming a productive member of the community.”
 
ENDS
 
Issued by Police Media Centre.