Third bootcamp participant facing charges, Oranga Tamariki clamping down on updates amid ‘public scrutiny’ on offenders

Oranga Tamariki has confirmed a third participant of the Government’s bootcamp pilot is facing charges.

But it’s also said in the future it will only provide updates on the participants “at appropriate milestones in the programme” or “if circumstances are exceptional or a matter of public safety”.

It said it was “aware of the impact of the additional public scrutiny on these young people and their whānau”.

Children’s Minister Karen Chhour said in the House on Tuesday afternoon that three young people, who left the youth justice residence in October and have since been in the community stage of the bootcamp programme, had accusations of reoffending levelled against them. However, she refused to provide any further comment on the matter when approached by the Herald, referring the matter to Oranga Tamariki.

Oranga Tamariki deputy chief executive for youth justice services and residential care Tusha Penny on Thursday afternoon confirmed in a statement that a third participant was facing charges.

“A full review into the circumstances leading up to recent incidents involving Military Style Academy (MSA) participants is ongoing,” Penny said.

Oranga Tamariki deputy chief executive Tusha Penny (right) speaks to a Parliament select committee about the recent death of a participant in the Government's bootcamp pilot. Photo / Adam Pearse

“Two young participants of the MSA pilot, who were missing last week, were located over the weekend. Both are facing charges in the Youth Court. A third young participant is also facing separate charges.

“We cannot comment on matters that are before the Youth Court or subject to police investigations.”

The agency also said that while it acknowledged “the public interest” in the military-style academy pilot, it was “aware of the impact of the additional public scrutiny on these young people and their whānau”.

“We have a duty to protect the privacy and wellbeing of this small and easily identifiable cohort of young people. Therefore, from this point on, Oranga Tamariki will provide public updates at appropriate milestones in the programme.

“Outside of this, updates will only be provided if circumstances are exceptional or a matter of public safety. “

Last week, officials confirmed two participants had absconded and were on the run from police. It’s understood they were located on Sunday when police arrested four people who allegedly had taken part in an attempted carjacking in Hamilton while possessing weapons, including a machete.

Chhour criticised Oranga Tamariki for what she considered “unacceptable” communication that led to her being unaware a second participant had gone missing after previously confirming one had absconded.

Labour’s Willow-Jean Prime said this week that Chhour had “lost control” of the pilot.

“It’s with each passing day that the concerns about the Government’s bootcamps deepen, with the risk of harm becoming greater,” she said.

Chhour has said the reoffending of some participants shouldn’t ruin the opportunities being afforded to others.

Luxon on Tuesday wouldn’t say exactly what “success” would look like for the pilot, but believed “saving one person” from being the victim of serious violent crime would be a “fantastic thing”.

He said those involved were “our toughest, most persistent serious young offenders” and doing nothing would mean the “community is not safe”.

It also emerged last week that one of the participants had died in a car crash. Chhour attended the tangi and said the death had impacted the other participants. It was at that tangi that one of the participants absconded, despite being with two Oranga Tamariki minders.

Jamie Ensor is a political reporter in the NZ Herald Press Gallery team based at Parliament. He was previously a TV reporter and digital producer in the Newshub Press Gallery office.