New book is a strategy against violence

Social services director, judge contributes to book

Rotorua residents have used their experience to contribute to a book on restorative justice.

Founding director of Mana Social Services Maxine Rennie and district court Judge Chris McGuire have each written chapters of A Restorative Approach to Family Violence: Changing Tack. It delves into the current thinking, practice and research of restorative justice in family violence.

Restorative justice is a process involving the victim and offenders talking in a safe environment with facilitators to redress the harm done to victims, while holding offenders to account.

The book will be launched in Rotorua and Cambridge University in England next month. It was published in the United Kingdom after being rejected by New Zealand academic publishers.

Mrs Rennie has written about her experiences with Mana Social Services, which started to deliver the Rotorua Second Chance Restorative Justice Programme in 1996. It was later picked up throughout the country.

"We had a huge number of whanau violence cases and we were thinking how can we help?" she said.

"[Former Rotorua policeman] Wally Haumaha and I met up with kaumatua here and in Raukawa and Tuwharetoa to look at alternative ways within tribal areas in dealing with it. We then approached the local judges and said because of the high numbers in Rotorua we need to be allowed to try some of these alternatives and see what difference it would make otherwise you would keep having recidivist offenders," she said.

"It never stopped from there, the judges went with it, they had faith it could work and they became the frontrunners for the country.

Mrs Rennie said she was thrilled to be part of the book.

"I think this book is amazing, I never dreamed it would happen. "

Judge McGuire said without a doubt he was seeing the benefits of the process.

"You see males for the first time, understanding their role to be a provider and protect and not an abuser," he said.

"I think it's marvellous the book is being launched here, we have gotten over the cringe factor and actually recognise we have a family violence problem and are facing it head on.

"What we are doing now is being seen by not only the country but the rest of the world."

A Restorative Approach to Family Violence: Changing Tack is being launched in Rotorua on July 3 at the Rotorua District Council Chambers.