Ten young men are set to join the first of the Government's boot camps for young offenders.
Acting Social Development Minister Judith Collins says the average age of those attending the eight-week Military Activity Camp is 16.
She says the young offenders will be taught self-responsibility and discipline and will do some serious physical activity.
They will also take part in mentoring, literacy and numeracy courses, and drug and alcohol rehabilitation programmes.
The camps - tested over the past year - are now in effect, following the implementation of the Government's Fresh Start legislation on 1 October.
