January 22, 2018
Marae solution for remand crisis
LADY HEENI PHILLIPS-WILLIAMS FULL INTERVIEW – CLICK HERE
A Maori lawyer is proposing alleged offenders be put under the care of marae as a way to address a big jump in the number of remand prisoners.
Lady Heeni Phillips says with the accommodation crisis it is becoming increasingly hard to find places where people can be released on bail, and many spend months in prison waiting to come to trial.
At the same time many marae struggle because there aren't enough people round to do maintenance or provide the workers for hui.
She says marae can be the centre for a range of programmes and activities that can benefit those awaiting trial.
That may require marae to build temporary accommodation.
"People who require bail can't stay in the meeting house because you are going to have tangi in there from time to time and other activities, normal activities at the marae, so you can't kick these bailees out, so you have to have separate accommodation," Lady Heeni says.
Iwi could coordinate the project in each area.
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