July 01, 2024
NZDF warns of bootcamp safety for staff
Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins has flagged concerns raised by the New Zealand Defence Force about military style boot camps.
Reports released to media under the Official Information Act shows the NZDF warned the Government against saying the six-week Limited Service Volunteer course – which is for 18 to 24 year olds trying to find employment – is the model for its youth military academy plan, which is a custodial sentence for children aged 14 to 17, after serious criminal offending.
The briefings also show problems with the LSV scheme from 2020 when the Ministry of Social Development started referring trainees who previously would not have been deemed physically and mentally fit for the course.
As many as 60 percent of the intake were deemed to have complex needs and the number of physical assaults on staff increased, resulting in a blow to morale, wellbeing and retention.
Ten NZDF staff suffered “serious mental harm including several cases of suicidal ideation”, the memo said.
It says NZDF staff were not trained to deal with the high levels of trainee complexity.
“All of the evidence shows it’s not going to work and i could do more harm than good. Government should take into account the very real concerns the Defence Force is raising,” Mr Hipkins says.
Oranga Tamariki is due to trial a version of the boot camp policy in Palmerston North in late July with 10 young people already in youth justice facilities.