Photo: 123rf
A group of youth offenders will today begin the government's new boot camp pilot in Palmerston North.
The Oranga Tamariki-run programme involves ten boys aged between 15 and 18, and will be run out of the existing Te Au rere a te Tonga Youth Justice Residence.
All were from the North Island and nine were Māori.
Each of the teenagers had committed at least two crimes with a court sentence of at least ten years, Children's Minister Karen Chhour said.
The minister would be present at the opening pōwhiri Monday morning and said she wished the participants all the best.
While each teen's programme would be different to cater to their needs, the base of the pilot was the same, Chhour said.
"It is around structure, wake up times, lights out times, daily exercise. It's about keeping their rooms tidy, all that structure and routine the young people need," she said.
A typical day would begin with a 6.30am wake up, include physical drills, education or employment pathway training, mentoring, whakapapa and cultural connection before lights out at 9.30pm
The Defence Force (NZDF) maintained an oversight role in the pilot, Chhour confirmed.
About 30 Oranga Tamariki staff had been trained by NZDF to run the pilot and modifications had been made to one of the residence's sleeping quarters, she said.
Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the boot camp's location in Palmerston North was "close to the Defence assets that are there that can be used, as I understand, from time to time".
But Chhour said that was not the case.
"We're unable to use the Defence facilities, so we can only use the Youth Justice facilities under the current law.
"NZDF will have a little bit of involvement going forward, but probably not as much as when we change the law at the end of the year," she said.
An outdoor gym and assault course had also been built on the field of the residence for the programme.
Both would be able to be used by other rangatahi in the facility when those in the pilot were not using it, Chhour said.
