8. Question No. 8—ChildrenTAMATHA PAUL (Green—Wellington Central) to the Minister for ChildrenQuestion No. 8—Children8. TAMATHA PAUL (Green—Wellington Central) to the Minister for Children: How if at all will she ensure that an evidence-based approach is at the heart of the Government's military-style boot camps?Hon KAREN CHHOUR (Minister for Children): First of all this Government does not have boot camps. The Government has begun a military-style academy pilot which got under way yesterday as part of the Government's response to address serious youth offending and lowering harm in our communities. The ten young people will be at the heart of the military-style academy pilot and they all deserve to have the opportunity to turn their lives around. In regards to the evidence the design of the pilot was informed by evidence and lessons from other military-style programmes such as the Limited Service Volunteer programme and the Military-style Activity Camp programme as well as overseas examples. These lessons included the need for comprehensive assessment prior to starting which each young person on the pilot has received from a clinical psychologist. Other lessons included the need to focus on the transition from the residential environment back into the community. This is why we are working with families where possible and each young person will have a mentor who will be alongside them throughout their journey both for the three-month in-residence and nine-month community phase.SPEAKER: Can I just notify the House that there is a small problem with the microphones at the back of the House affecting the output from those microphones so listening more intently is probably the best way to get the most out of these questions.Tamatha Paul: Does she accept the finding by the royal commission of inquiry into abuse in State care: Research demonstrates that boot camps and other harsh sharp short and shock interventions for youth are ineffective at reducing repeat offending."?Hon KAREN CHHOUR: Yes I do agree that boot camps in the past were horrific and did cause harm to people who went on those boot camps. They were run inappropriately with staff who were not trained in a remote isolated area with no way to actually seek help. This is not what we're doing and I am proud to stand by this Government in working with these young people to address serious youth offending.Tamatha Paul: Is she able to guarantee that young people will not be at risk of abuse in military-style boot camps and if not why is she ploughing ahead with a failed system that puts young people at risk?Hon KAREN CHHOUR: Nobody can guarantee the actions of others but what we can do is make sure we put everything in place to make sure that the risks are as low as possible and that if something does happen we act quickly and efficiently and in the right way.Hon Dr Duncan Webb: Isn't it the case that there are no drills at these military-style boot camps no military fatigues no military staff and in fact there's nothing particularly military at all about these military-style boot camps?Hon KAREN CHHOUR: The New Zealand Defence Force has been involved from the very beginning in designing the programme training the staff and actually making sure that this is a well-rounded programme.Laura Trask: What evidence has the Minister seen on previous approaches to youth crime?Hon KAREN CHHOUR: I've seen evidence that the previous approaches to youth crime saw a 291 percent increase in ram raids over the last six years. In 2023 over 85 percent of offenders were younger than 18. I've also seen evidence that previous approaches made people feel scared to go to work and fear for their safety and for the safety of their families and employees. I've seen evidence that youth crime costs businesses thousands of dollars in damage and stolen goods every time they are hit with business owners making the tough decision to shut their shops for good rather than put themselves at risk.Tamatha Paul: What alternative interventions were considered before deciding on boot camps and why were they dismissed?Hon KAREN CHHOUR: These young people are in a youth justice facility currently because they have committed serious offences. It is obvious that approaches that have been tried beforehand haven't worked. That is why we are trying a new approach.Ricardo Menéndez March: Point of order. Thank you. The question was very succinct and clear about what options were provided to the Minister. She talked about previous attempts but at no point did she address any of the evidence or advice she would have been receiving.Hon Todd McClay: We're not in Mexico. That's not how we do it here.SPEAKER: No I don't think that's a fair analysis of the answer that was given with all due respect. Tamatha Paul: What does she say to the survivors of abuse—[Interruption]SPEAKER: I'll tell you what. Ask the question when the House is quiet.Tamatha Paul: What does she say to the survivors of abuse in State care whose royal commission inquiry report had an entire 100-page chapter called "Boot camp" and their pleas for no more military-style boot camps? Hon KAREN CHHOUR: With all due respect I've stood here and said many times that I am sorry for what those people went through. But this military-style academy has nothing to do with the boot camps of the past which were absolutely horrendous run by untrained staff on a remote island with weapons and they were allowed to do whatever they pleased. There is nothing like that in this military-style academy."