Topical report, NZCVS Cycle 2 (2018-19), April 2021

Calls for fundamental reform of the criminal justice system in Aotearoa New Zealand have occurred over many years. In 2018 theHāpaitia te Oranga Tangata, the Safe and Effective Justice Programmewas initiated to set a new direction for change. In 2019, the Turuki! Turuki! Move together!report publishedbyTe Uepū Hāpai i te Ora, the Safe and Effective Justice Advisory Group,established by the Minister of Justice,called for “a fundamental reshaping of Aotearoa New Zealand’s justice system to one which prevents harm, addresses its causes, and promotes healing and restoration among individuals and communities.” (p.5). The report noted, among other things, that“the [justice] system is failing Māori. ... We heard how the enduring effects of colonisation disenfranchise and impoverish Māori communities, and how Māori experience worse outcomes than other new Zealanders at every stage of the justice process.” (p.12), and that “We heard numerous examples of institutional racial discrimination in the justice system, particularly towards Māori and Pacific communities.” (p13).Many criticisms of the criminal justice system focus on criminal justice responses to people who offendand the disproportionately negative affect this has on Māori. However, it has been known for a long time that Māori are also significantly over-represented among those who are harmed by crime. This report takes an in-depth look into Māori victimisation in Aotearoa New Zealand to help inform the discussions and initiatives around the ongoing reform of the justice system. Specifically, we look atvictimisation within the Māori population during the first two cycles of the NZCVS (2018/19) to examine the extent and nature of crime experienced, who within Māori are more likely to be victimised,and what factors protect against victimisation. (From the Executive summary). Record #7130