Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Children’s Minister Karen Chhour and Police Minister Mark Mitchell announced new measures to combat youth crime.
It’s no surprise New Zealanders think there is a major youth crime epidemic in New Zealand.
Just two weeks into December, police have publicised at least 10 crimes - most involving stolen cars and several where machetes were presented - that they say were perpetrated by youths.
A break-in at a Takanini restaurant involving youths aged 12, 13, 15 and 16.
A stolen car, masked occupants and a fleeing driver in an attempted carjacking with a machete in Hamilton involving three 15-year-olds and a 16-year-old.
A 17-year-old charged after a Rotorua bottle store was robbed of $9000 in stock by “a small group”, one wielding a machete.
A 15-year-old “gang prospect” arrested after a central Palmerston North store was robbed of $4500 worth of items, including a large amount of perfume.
A teenage participant of the Government’s controversial military-style bootcamp pilot escaped the custody of Oranga Tamariki staff last week while attending the funeral of a former participant.
Footage of a burglary in Hamilton in 2023. Two 18-year-olds and a 16-year-old were charged. Photo / Supplied
Serious youth offending dominates the headlines and the community is, naturally, frustrated, outraged and fearful.
But a Ministry of Justice report released this week shows that across the board, youth offending is steadily decreasing in New Zealand and there is less reoffending by young people.
TheYouth Justice Indicators Summary Report aims to provide insight into the performance of the youth justice system from July 2013 to June 2024.
The report follows Herald series Breaking Bad, which earlier this year took an in-depth look at the drivers of youth crime and possible solutions.
“These indicators measure trends for children and young people who police have taken action against, providing information about their interactions with the youth justice system,” the report states.
“The purpose of this report is to help those involved in youth justice understand system-wide trends and issues.
“It is intended to encourage discussion and action towards the important goal of making children and young people accountable for their offending in a way that recognises their needs and vulnerability, while making a positive difference in their lives.”
Every day there is a new example of youth crime in New Zealand. Graphic / Guy Body
The report looks at children (aged 10-13) and young people (aged 14-16) who have faced police action including warnings, alternative actions, youth justice family group conferences and prosecution in the Youth Court.
“Despite challenges in recent years, there has been a decrease in youth offending over the last decade,” the report stated.
“For example, since 2013/14 the rate of police proceedings decreased by 45% and 44% for children and young people, respectively.
“The rate of Youth Court appearances decreased by 41% for young people.
“The one-year reoffending rate decreased from 46% for those proven in court in 2013 to 37% in 2022.”
A typical day in the Youth Court in NZ. Graphic / Guy Body
The truth about youth - key findings
The report revealed a number of key findings for the 2023/24 year:
The number of children and young people proceeded against for offending and the nature of their offending were similar to the previous year.
The rate of children proceeded against was 75 per 10,000 children and the rate for young people was 250 per 10,000.
The proportion of police proceedings for serious offences - crimes with a maximum penalty of seven years or more in prison, such as car theft and burglary - remained similar to the previous year.
Theft remained the most common offence for police proceedings, followed by assault.
For young people, the rate of proceedings decreased by 4%.
The number of children with serious and persistent offending behaviour decreased by 8% to 187 children. The number of young people was similar to last year at 886.
Graphic / Ministry of Justice
Graphic / Ministry of Justice
Most children and young people police take proceedings against are managed outside the formal justice system. Only a small proportion of children and young people facing proceedings are referred to Oranga Tamariki for a family group conference (FGC) or go directly to the Youth Court.
Most children and young people proceeded against with court action were aged between 14 and 17 years old.
Canterbury had the highest proportion of young people proceeded against - and FGC or court action. The number of young people processed through the Youth Court was also highest in Canterbury.
For young people with charges proven in court in 2021, 53% reoffended within two years, compared to 51% for the 2020 cohort. The report stated the increase “may be linked to the disruption of youth justice support for during Covid-19”.
The reoffending rate for children and young people has been “relatively stable following the end of Covid-19 disruptions”.
Graphic / Ministry of Justice
Māori tamariki (children) and rangatahi (young people) continue to be overrepresented in the youth justice system and are “more likely to be proceeded against in comparison to the total population”.
The rate of tamariki Māori proceeded against was 175 per 10,000, compared with 75 per 10,000 for the total population. And the rate for rangatahi Māori was 522 per 10,000, compared with 250 per 10,000 for the total population.
“These disparities have persisted over the last decade,” the report said.
“It is important to note that most tamariki and rangatahi Māori have no contact with the youth justice system. Over 98% of tamariki Māori and 95% of rangatahi Māori had no police proceedings compared with 99% and 98% for the total population.”
Over the last decade, fewer Pacific young people have interacted with the youth justice system, but disparities still exist for Pacific children.
Children and young people involved in the youth justice system often have complex needs, which can be among the underlying causes of their offending.
The report revealed that 93% of children and 88% of young people referred for a youth justice FGC had a previous care and protection report of concern.
The proportion was similar for tamariki Māori (92%) and higher for rangatahi Māori (92%).
The proportion children aged 10-13 referred for a Family Group Conference after offending who had a previous care and protection report of concern. Graphic / Ministry of Justice
The proportion young people aged 14-16 referred for a Family Group Conference after offending who had a previous care and protection report of concern. Graphic / Ministry of Justice
The report incorporated data from police, the Ministry of Justice, Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children, Corrections and the Ministry of Education.
“While the data collected and key indicators may change over the years - what will not change is the commitment of youth justice agencies and organisations working together to support victims, prevent youth crime, and help those who offend to turn their lives around,” it stated.
Youth offending was a hot election issue, with now-Prime Minister Christopher Luxon promising to crack down on young Kiwis ram-raiding dairies, vape shops and liquor stores.
There was a marked spike in offending following the height of the Covid pandemic and national lockdowns.
“We know that many young people in our country were impacted by lockdowns and a sense of social isolation, and that this once-in-a-generation pandemic placed unprecedented pressures on families, over the past year and a half in particular with increased costs of living,” Chief Children’s Commissioner Dr Claire Achmad told the Herald last month.
How the Youth Justice system works - a road map. Graphic / Ministry of Justice
She was hesitant when asked what might be behind the trend reversal.
“At this stage, we can’t draw attribution to any one specific new policy here. We need to probably take the time to understand more about what could be feeding into this.”
Arran Jones, chief executive of Aroturuki Tamariki/the Independent Children’s Monitor, also spoke of “a bit of a spike post-Covid”.
“It’s good to see that maybe the [pre-Covid] decline is returning.”
Anna Leask is a Christchurch-based reporter who covers national crime and justice. She joined the Herald in 2008 and has worked as a journalist for 18 years with a particular focus on family and gender-based violence, child abuse, sexual violence, homicides, mental health and youth crime. She writes, hosts and produces the award-winning podcast A Moment In Crime, released monthly on nzherald.co.nz
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