A young man selected to participate in the Military-Style Academy Pilot has reoffended.
The participant, one of ten young men chosen for the programme, allegedly committed a new offense after completing the three-month residential phase. Children's Minister Karen Chhour expressed disappointment but acknowledged that it would be unrealistic to expect all participants to succeed. She emphasized the complexities faced by these young people and the importance of providing support beyond the residential component.
The Military-Style Academy Pilot aims to address the challenges faced by at-risk youth through a unique approach combining military-style discipline with tailored support. The programme has learned from previous initiatives, such as the LSV and MAC programmes, and overseas examples. Minister Chhour is confident in the success of the residential phase, citing instances where participants secured jobs and had mentors assigned to them.
The nine-month community phase, which concludes in July 2025, will provide ongoing support to the participants. The Ministry has referred further inquiries about this incident to Oranga Tamariki, Police, and the Courts for clarification.