5 Feb 2010

Maori Party supports closure of youth offender scheme

7:16 am on 5 February 2010

The Maori Party supports the closure of the youth offender programme, Te Hurihanga, saying it was clearly too expensive.

Te Hurihanga is a community-based treatment programme in Hamilton for teenage boys who are prolific offenders.

It has cost $5 million in three years, which the Government says equates to more than $600,000 for each of eight graduates.

Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia says although Te Hurihanga was successful, it cost too much. She says local iwi Tainui should be kept involved in whatever happens next.