Balance in politics too unsexy for some

WANGANUI is once again at the front of new work in restorative justice. Along with three big international cities, Wanganui is piloting a project which will see us partnered up with Leeds and Hull (UK) and Halifax (Canada) to promote the use of restorative justice.

On Monday last week, several speakers, national and international, of which I was one, attended the launch of the project. Police, the Ministry of Justice, the judiciary, the Ministry of Social Development and local Wanganui community agencies were briefed on this project. It builds on the international accreditation as a Safer City which the Wanganui District Council worked on two years ago, and our history as leaders in restorative justice conferencing.

The keynote speaker, a principal from Collingwood School in Hull, spoke about the changes within their school communities and the flow-on effect with respect to children and youth, along with older people being diverted from the criminal justice system.

The changes the approach led to were well reflected when Collingwood went from a "failed" school with huge absenteeism (pupils and teachers), low academic success and lots of violence, to a school which was listed as "outstanding" with high attendance, academic success and low violence, all in the space of two years.

We met at Heritage House, which had been the venue for another meeting to do with social and criminal justice, being a meeting called to explain Corrections measures put in place to control Stuart Murray Wilson

The previous meeting had been heated and, at times, angry. It was well attended. TV cameras populated the room and footage got prime-time slots on the evening and early morning news.

The media-savvy made their statements and left the room. Those not so savvy got on TV for the wrong reasons. So the negative story drew the crowd and secured the prime time.

The positive story never attracted the national news. Not a TV camera to be seen, although loyal Wanganui media were present.

The myriad of district councillors who were present and asking questions at the first meeting re Wilson were nowhere to be seen at the restorative justice meeting. The political aspirants were absent where previously they were present.

Wanganui has been the pilot for a number of restorative practice initiatives - like the Wanganui Restorative Justice Trust. They succeed and are then replicated in this country and others. Leaders in the justice sector quote the Wanganui initiatives and hold them up as examples. Some of our youth justice programmes such as Life to the Max are world-beating.

It makes you wonder how come nobody ever skites about these successes? Last Monday there was a bright red car with political and promoter statements scrawled all over it parked across the road, but the owner/driver was nowhere to be seen - just like the TV cameras.

Balance in politics as in life is important, though it may not be sexy.