Articles tagged with Youth

New Zealand Minister for Children Achieves Historic Reduction of Harm in State Care Residences

1 week ago | 103 views

Minister for Children Karen Chhour announced a historic 14% reduction in harm within Youth Justice and Care and Protection residences in New Zealand, attributing the achievement to investments and practice changes. The focus on safety and well-being, including enhanced training, recruitment, and facility improvements, has been a priority for Oranga Tamariki under her leadership. These efforts align with the recommendations of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State Care, reflecting a commitment to preventing harm and prioritizing the safety of children and young people in state care.

Tags: Minister for Children Karen Chhour harm reduction state care residences Youth Justice Care and Protection Oranga Tamariki safety improvements training initiatives Royal Commission of Inquiry children's system.

Amendments to Policing Act: Enhancing Police Powers for Public Safety & Crime Prevention

3 weeks ago | 149 views

The Cabinet has decided to amend the Policing Act to clarify Police's authority to gather intelligence in public places and expand their powers to temporarily close areas in response to antisocial behavior or safety risks. Recent court decisions have raised uncertainty about Police's ability to record images in public spaces, prompting the proposed amendments to reaffirm their authority for lawful purposes. These changes aim to restore Police's crime prevention capabilities, support prosecutions, respond to evolving threats like organized crime, and enhance interventions for public safety, youth offending, and family harm.

Tags: Police Mark Mitchell Policing Act intelligence gathering crime prevention organised crime gang activity public safety youth offending family harm

Minister Karen Chhour Reports Success in Youth Offending Reduction Efforts

1 month ago | 186 views

Minister Karen Chhour notes a significant decrease in serious and persistent youth offending since June 2024, attributing the improvement to a tough yet fair approach and increased unity within communities and government. The reduction in youth offenders has led to safer communities, with lower rates of ram raids and repeat offending, as well as improved collaboration between Oranga Tamariki and Police. Investments from Budget 2025 aim to further reduce re-offending and enhance support for young serious offenders, prioritizing community safety and victim well-being.

Tags: Karen Chhour Minister for Children young people offenders community leaders New Zealanders Oranga Tamariki Police youth offending initiatives

Successful Military-Style Academy Pilot Transforms Young Lives, Reducing Youth Offending

2 months ago | 424 views

A 12-month Military-Style Academy pilot at Te Au rere a te Tonga in Palmerston North has successfully supported youth offenders and their families, resulting in improved behavior and reduced re-offending rates. Minister for Children Karen Chhour received overwhelmingly positive feedback on the pilot's outcomes, with many participants showing promise and making positive life changes. The government's initiatives, including the pilot program, have contributed to a significant reduction in serious and persistent youth offending, leading to safer communities and increased opportunities for at-risk youth.

Tags: Karen Chhour Minister for Children Youth Justice Social Workers Te Au rere a te Tonga Palmerston North Youth Offenders Support Services Community Safety

Yvonne Browning MNZM Appointed to Tertiary Education Commission Board by Vocational Education Minister

3 months ago | 815 views

Yvonne Browning MNZM has been appointed to the Board of the Tertiary Education Commission by Vocational Education Minister Penny Simmonds. Browning's passion for enabling students, especially young women, to reach their potential through tertiary education and training was highlighted. Her experience as Principal of Southland Girls’ High School and her efforts in promoting engineering careers for young women were emphasized as valuable assets for the TEC's mission to prepare students for further education, training, and employment.

Tags: Penny Simmonds Yvonne Browning Tertiary Education Commission Education Minister Southland Girls’ High School New Zealand Order of Merit Tiwai Point Aluminium Smelter engineering education youth

Student Volunteer Army Receives $50,000 Grant for Youth-Led Response to Nelson Tasman Weather Crisis

3 months ago | 643 views

Youth Minister James Meager has announced a one-time $50,000 grant to the Student Volunteer Army (SVA) to mobilize young volunteers aged 12-24 to assist in response to severe weather events in Nelson Tasman. The SVA will coordinate region-wide activities for the next four-to-six weeks to provide valuable assistance to communities affected by recent flooding. The initiative aims to engage young people in disaster response, offering them a youth development opportunity while contributing to community recovery efforts.

Tags: Nelson Tasman Student Volunteer Army Youth Minister James Meager Foxhill Sam Johnson disaster response community leaders youth development extreme weather voluntary work

Govt set to surpass both law and order targets

4 months ago | 833 views

New quarterly data shows the Government is on track to deliver on both law and order targets ahead of schedule, Minister for Children Karen Chhour and Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith say. “We’re determined to protect communities, reduce victimisation, and to encourage young people not to continue down the path of serious crime and incarceration,” Mrs Chhour says. “A year ago we set a target of reducing the number of children and young people with serious and persistent offending behaviour by 15 per cent by 2029.

Tags: Auckland Canterbury Goldsmith Karen chhou New zealand crime and victims survey Paul goldsmith Youth serious offender