Te Hunga Rōia Māori says it welcomes the Ināia Tonu Nei report, but even more than ever, expects actions towards achieving the change needed.

“The time for change is ‘Ināia Tonu Nei’ (now), the title of the hui Māori report released yesterday on criminal justice transformation," says Glenn Tootill, Tumuaki Tāne of Te Hunga Rōia Māori.

He says that although the overrepresentation of Māori in New Zealand’s justice system as both victims of crime and those who offended are sadly not new, the call for action and recommendation sets tangible time-frames for the Crown and action to change outcomes now.

“This report is sadly not a surprise to Māori. The call for services to be designed and delivered by Māori for Māori, to disestablish Oranga Tamariki and reform the way the Family Court works for our people are not bold. They are necessary changes for the wellbeing of Māori.”

Mr Tootill says Moana Jackson, one of the co-founders of Te Hunga Roia Māori released a report in 1988, the same year it was formed, stating the same issues identified today in Ināia Tonu Nei.

“Over decades, many of our members as lawyers, judges and advocates have pushed for real change and this report sets a map to do just that. This cannot become another report that is ignored," he says.