Contribution to the Justice Sector Long-Term Insights Briefing on the future of imprisonment
The Long-Term Insights Briefing is a new type of Crown document to be developed by government departments under the Public Service Act 2020. Ināia Tonu Nei and the Justice Sector Leadership Board decided the first justice sector Long-Term Insights Briefing provided a good opportunity to work together.
We agreed the topic together “long-term insights about imprisonment and what these tell us about future risks and opportunities”. We thought the topic of imprisonment would make an aspect of the criminal justice system and its performance more visible.
The joint project has also provided opportunities for Ināia Tonu Nei to work with justice sector government agencies to influence their thinking and envisage a different future. We also saw this project as work towards progressing the recommendation from the Hui Māori Report to reform the New Zealand justice system based on abolishing prisons by 2040.
Wānanga on an Aotearoa without prisons
On 19 May 2022 Ināia Tonu Nei in collaboration with National Iwi Chair’s Forum Pou Tikanga hosted a wānanga on an Aotearoa without prisons. The wānanga was about identifying Māori concepts and whakaaro about justice and the justice system and progressing thinking on what a Māori designed justice system would look like.
The wānanga considered three high level questions:
· where are we now
· where do we want to be
· how do we get there.
The wānanga was one of our inputs to the Long-Term Insights Briefing. The notes from the wānanga can be read here.
A Māori view on the future risks and opportunities for imprisonment in Aotearoa – companion report to the Long-Term Insights Briefing: Justice Sector “Long Term Insights on Imprisonment, 1960 to 2050”
We are pleased to release our companion report to the Long-Term Insights Briefing which outlines our vision for the future and how we see that vision being achieved. We identify four interrelated opportunities/options which need to be progressed together as a package to get us firmly on a pathway to an Aotearoa where all whānau, tamariki and mokopuna are thriving and connected and are able to exercise tino rangatiratanga over their lives and destinies; and where we have no prisons.
Our report back be read here (PDF version) and here (Word version). We are interested in hearing your feedback and thoughts and if you want to work with us to achieve our vision. Please contact us on teroro@inaiatonunei.nz
Further information about the Long-Term Insights Briefing can be found here https://www.justice.govt.nz/justice-sector-policy/key-initiatives/justice-sector-long-term-insights-briefing/
