Review of Police and iwi/Māori relationships
This is a summary of the review of Police and iwi/Maori relationships and what can be done together to reduce offending and victimisation. It draws together information from interviews with iwi/Maori stakeholders, police and government agencies,[1] offending and victimisation statistics, workforce and population data, and analysis of research.[2]
This review has been timed to inform Police structure, capacity and partnerships with iwi/Maori as part of delivering Prevention First (PF), Turning of the Tide (T4), the Road Policing Strategy (RPS), the Responsiveness to Maori (RTM) framework and meeting wider Better Public Services targets.
[1] Interviews with 137 people were undertaken in 10 of the 12 Police Districts (all except Southern and Tasman). These areas have comparatively low Maori populations, and the main iwi for the South Island (Ngai Tahu) were included in interviews undertaken in Canterbury. Purposive sampling was used for initial contacts, guided by local iwi liaison officers, MPES national office and senior Police staff. Key roles within Police were interviewed (District and Area Commanders, ILOs, Prevention Managers, Victim Managers) as well as a mix of specialist and front-line roles (family violence, Neighbourhood Policing Teams, Public Safety Teams). From the initial contacts, snowball sampling was used to recruit other participants. Half of the interviews were with Maori: iwi leaders, kuia, kaumatua, Maori Wardens, Maori social service providers and men participating in a family violence programme. The remainder were with a broad range of Police staff. Two interviews were undertaken with Te Puni Kokiri and Probation staff, and Justice, Probation, Courts and TPK were consulted on the draft. The majority of interviews were in-depth, one-on-one and face-to-face and used a mix of structured and semi-structured questions.
[2] Independent research has been used to provide an outside perspective: Te Whaiti and Roguski (1998), Te Puni Kokiri (2002), Marxwell (2005), McKay, (2013), OAG, (2003), Morrison, (2009). Human Rights Commission (2012), IPCA (2013), NZ Police (2012), SSC, the Treasury and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (2012).