A Tauranga district court judge says marae-based youth courts are forcing whanau to reconnect with their rangatahi who have gone off the rails.
Judge Louis Bidois will oversee a monthly youth court session at Owae marae in Waitara.
That brings the total number of marae holding sessions to five, with Orakei having launched its service on Tuesday.
The judge told Waatea News that in the marae setting the offender is not alone.
He says marae courts are used to oversee the accountability and rehabilitation processes agreed in the family group conference, which is held after the initial Youth Court appearance.
