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Make gangs part of the solution.
That's one of the suggestions coming out of a hui of Auckland Pasifika leaders and Maori and Pasifika non-government organisations that called for a complete overhaul of the corrections and justice systems.
Manase Lua, who is standing for the Maori Party in Maungakiekie, says there is growing anger at a system that locks up a disproportionate number of Maori and Pasifika.
The former Pacific Islands Ministry staffer says the Corrections budget would be better redirected into the restorative justice and non-government sectors to come up with solutions that will turn people's lives around.
Gangs could be part of that.
"The gangs, believe it or not, are doing some of the work to house their whanau, bring their whanau in, keep them out of trouble in a way. They do a few silly things now and then but they are part of the community, part of the whanau, part of the solution and into bricks and mortar, into the prison, into this restorative justice focus it could be more lucrative than drugs and the gangs won't be looking at selling P any more," Mr Lua says.
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