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Counties Manukau police are looking at ways to cut crime, reconnecting Maori offenders with their culture is a possibilty.
Detective Sergeant Waati Chaplow is one of 15 police officers from around Auckland to complete the year long Rumaki Reo course run by Kaa and Tawhirimatea Williams.
He says it has opened their eyes to new possibilities for dealing with offenders, within the new policy of alternate resolution.
"They have a second chance. Instead of putting them through the justice system, what is the root of the problem? A lot of that is they don’t know who they are. Kaore ratau i te mohio ko wai ratou. The whakaaro now is let’s help them find their tikanga, their Maoritanga. These programmes have worked in the past. It’s something we are looking closely at now, both with youth and adults," Mr Chaplow says.
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