6. Question No. 6—JusticeGOLRIZ GHAHRAMAN (Green) to the Minister of JusticeQuestion No. 6—Justice6. GOLRIZ GHAHRAMAN (Green) to the Minister of Justice: What reports has he seen which were released today that highlight racial discrimination in our justice system?Hon ANDREW LITTLE (Minister of Justice): Today I released two reports Te Tangi o te Manawanui: Recommendations for Reform from the Government's Chief Victims Advisor and Turuki! Turuki! from Te Uepū Hāpai i te Ora the Safe and Effective Justice Advisory Group. These reports noted the unacceptable rates in which Māori come into contact with the criminal justice system both as offenders and as victims of crime. As the reports note the justice system must support fairness and equity accountability and restoration. The Government is committed to a fresh start for our criminal justice system that meets these goals over time so that we see less offending less reoffending and fewer victims of crime who are better supported.Golriz Ghahraman: Is he concerned with the finding of the report from the Safe and Effective Justice Advisory Group that Māori experience worse outcomes than other New Zealanders at every stage of the justice process?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: Yes I am and as I've already noted the report showed that Māori are more likely to be affected by the criminal justice sector at all levels both as offenders and as victims. That's why justice sector Ministers across the Government have already put in place a number of new initiatives that will improve outcomes for Māori by ensuring that we have less offending less reoffending and fewer victims of crime who are better supported.Golriz Ghahraman: What is the Government's intention regarding the Chief Victims Advisor's recommendation on partnering with Māori to design and deliver tikanga-based justice processes which fulfil Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: The Government has already begun moving on this. I point to the great work done by the Minister of Corrections in establishing the Hōkai Rangi programme in corrections which makes more effort to deal with the problems prisoners have as part of their offending. I'd also point to the work of Te Pae Oranga iwi community panels with police which is a community response to some offending to get offenders off a track to a bleaker future in the criminal justice system. In the justice space we continue to support alternative courts such as Matariki the New Beginnings Court and the Special Circumstances Court as well as specialist courts such as the sexual violence court.Golriz Ghahraman: Is it the intention of the Minister to recognise the need for alternative justice processes such as tikanga-based therapeutic and restorative justice processes as well to improve outcomes for victims and defendants?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: Yes. One example of a more therapeutic approach is the alcohol and other drug treatment courts and as I've already indicated I was very pleased to announce that the Government will be making the existing pilot courts permanent as well as adding a new alcohol and other drug court in Hamilton. Again I acknowledge the support of members Jamie Strange and Tim Macindoe for that initiative.Golriz Ghahraman: How will the extension of the specialised drug and alcohol courts reflect our Government's focus on rehabilitation and treating the causes of offending?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: What we've seen from the existing alcohol and other drug court pilots is that offenders who go through these courts are much less likely to reoffend—significantly less like to reoffend—because they get the treatment and support they need that addresses the causes of their offending. It's a great result for communities that those individuals come from. It means that we can do the harm reduction and the help that they need while they are in the community. That's why they are so positive.