A group of First Nation Canadians have heard from a Wellington-based Maori trust that traditional ways of dealing with troubled tribal members are more effective than today's criminal justice system.
The international delegation of 20 people have been on a two-week tour of Aotearoa partly to find out how tangata whenua incorporate Maori culture in to New Zealand society from health to education.
The group of First Nation members went to Lower Hutt to meet with representatives from Te Runanganui o Taranaki Whanui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika a Maui.
Canadian aboriginal consultant Michael Bonshor says the group heard about a pilot crime prevention programme run by the runanga which comes under an iwi-police strategy, Turning of the Tide.
He says the new way of addressing criminal offending by tribal members is really the old traditional way of dealing with it.
Mr Bonshor says that message was reinforced during their visit with members of Te Runanganui o Taranaki Whanui.
Hear more about traditional tribal Canadian and Maori practices on Te Ahi Kaa on Sunday after the 6pm news on Radio New Zealand National
