A history of youth justice in New Zealand.

Source: (2003) New Zealand: Department for Courts.

The Children, Young Persons and Their Families Act 1989 revolutionised
New Zealand youth justice practices, establishing an innovative set of
principles and procedures to govern the response to young offenders, and
to manage the role of the State in the lives of young people and their
families.
The founding objective of the legislation is ‘to promote the wellbeing of
children, young persons, and their families and family groups’ (section
4). The Act thus seeks to empower families and communities, rather than
professionals, in deciding the best measures to respond to offending
behaviour in children and young people
This report will explore the background to the youth justice provisions of
the Act, both internationally and domestically, with the hope that an
understanding of the system’s evolution will render a better insight into
the principles behind this innovative piece of legislation. (excerpt)