July 25, 2019
Māori leadership needed for justice reform
Ngāi Tahu elder Tā Mark Solomon says the justice system cannot be reformed without leadership from te ao Māori.
Releasing the report of a national Māori justice hui in April, Tā Mark said the hui called for the Crown to finally share power with Māori.
He says the report, Ināia Tonu Nei – The Time is Now: We Lead, You Follow, reflects both the sobering reality for Māori at the hands of a colonial justice system, and an overwhelming energy for Māori to lead a new design for the justice system.
The other spokesperson for the report, Katie Murray, said more Māori being caught in the justice pipeline than any other time in the history of Aotearoa.
Anyone who believes bias does not exist within the justice system does not truly understand the daily injustices faced by Māori in that system.
Justice Minister Andrew Little said Ināia Tonu Nei provides important insights into Māori attitudes toward the justice system and ideas on how to improve justice outcomes.
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