An iwi-liaison officer in the Far North is urging other police districts to collaborate with Maori social service providers to help bring down Maori offending.
Police in Kaitaia have been referring high-risk whanau to the Far North Maori providers collective, which then creates wrap-around support services for the family.
Iwi-liaison officer Te Uri Reihana-Ngatote says he's seen a significant reduction in recidivist family violence since the collaboration was formed, two years ago.
Mr Reihana-Ngatote says of the 10 high risk families identified in the area, only one whanau has come to police attention in the past six months.
He says he encourages police to go out into the community to form those relationships and look at what service approach would best address the issues within the community.
Mr Reihana-Ngatote is crediting the agencies for the success of the programme.
