This evaluative study of the Te Piriti Special Treatment Unit for child sex offenders found that this programme was effective in reducing sexual recidivism rates of adult male offenders. Te Piriti incorporates Maori cultural principles into its treatment regime and the authors found that this approach, combined with cognitive behavioural therapy, is effective with both Maori and non-Maori sex offenders. Demographic and other statistics compare Maori and non-Maori offence related differences and recidivism rates, and are also used to compare Te Piriti with Kia Marama, the programme for sex offenders located in the South Island. This study recommends the further use and development of Maori cultural principles in treatment initiatives with sexual offenders, with a view to extending these practices to other criminogenic programmes.

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