Mangakino awarded $30,000 after restorative justice process

That meeting was subsequently held in July and was attended by more
than 30 people, including representatives from TDC and EW. TDC
apologized to the Mangakino community for the offending and the way it
had handled the issue. It agreed it would communicate clearly with the
town if any further incidents occurred, and to keep people informed
about the outcome of the court case and the awarding of any money to
projects.

Residents at the meeting suggested TDC could pay for research into
problems caused by the stormwater system that currently links into the
sewage system on many properties, the use of soak holes and the
provision of irrigation of treated water on to the golf course to
disperse some of the water. They also suggested contributions towards
insulation of housing in Mangakino and a community garden.

As a result of the meeting TDC offered to pay $15,000 towards a new
irrigation and treatment process to provide irrigation to the golf
course. Judge Melanie Harland noted this would provide a substantial
start to the project.

TDC also offered to pay $5,000 to research the stormwater flow into
the sewage system and to address possible solutions to the problem this
caused. Another $10,000 was offered for the community garden.  

Judge Harland said she was “very impressed” with the results of the
restorative justice process saying they were an “excellent example of
what can be achieved by people when they approach the solution to a
problem with goodwill and lateral thought”.

…“This process has been an excellent medium for involving the community
and fully informing them of what has been happening in their back yard. I
commend the way the community turned out for the restorative justice
meeting and was able to clearly indicate what they wanted.

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