$103M Allocates to Reform Serious Youth Offenders and Improve Justice Facilities

In a landmark move to reform youth justice and reduce reoffending, Budget 2025 allocates more than $103 million over four years to bolster initiatives aimed at supporting serious and persistent young offenders. The investment reflects a strategic approach to not only curb youth crime but to rehabilitate and reintegrate young people into society as productive and law-abiding citizens.

The funding will support a broad spectrum of measures designed to create safer communities, enhance rehabilitation environments, and provide structured pathways away from crime for some of the country’s most at-risk youth.

Significant Progress Spurs New Investment

This financial boost builds on notable progress already achieved under the Government’s youth justice initiatives. Minister for Children Karen Chhour announced that there has been a 13% reduction in the number of young people involved in serious and persistent offending—a key indicator of success in this domain.

“This investment will have a real impact on these young people and their whānau,” Minister Chhour stated. “It will also ensure our communities are safer, both immediately and in the future.”

A Multi-Faceted Package for Youth Justice

The $103 million allocation is designed to be comprehensive and far-reaching. Over the next four years, it will fund a combination of infrastructure improvements and targeted intervention programmes, including:

• $22 million for critical repairs and upgrades to Oranga Tamariki youth justice residences, ensuring safe and supportive environments that contribute to rehabilitation.

• $16 million to implement the new legislative framework for Young Serious Offenders, as laid out in the Oranga Tamariki (Responding to Serious Youth Offending) Amendment Bill. This regime is expected to introduce stricter yet constructive measures for addressing severe youth crime.

• $33 million dedicated to enhancing safety and quality standards in youth justice facilities, with an emphasis on humane and rehabilitative care.

• $33 million to support the operation of military-style academies, alongside transitional support services that guide young offenders through reintegration phases following institutional care or correctional programmes.

Investing in Potential, Not Just Infrastructure

Minister Chhour emphasized that the initiatives are not solely about correcting behaviour, but about empowering youth with the tools to lead better lives. “Sometimes all it takes to improve the lives of an entire whānau is supporting one young person to make better choices,” she said. “We continue to want better for, and from, these young people. This is not just an investment in facilities, it is an investment in them.”

These initiatives are grounded in the belief that early intervention, consistent mentorship, and tailored programmes can transform lives. Military-style academies, in particular, are expected to instill discipline and a sense of purpose, while transitional support ensures that young offenders do not fall back into cycles of crime after leaving structured environments.

A Safer, More Hopeful Future

The Government’s continued prioritization of youth justice is part of a broader agenda to enhance public safety through reform, not just punishment. By investing in young offenders today, the Government aims to prevent crime tomorrow—reducing the long-term social and economic costs associated with repeated incarceration and community harm.

Budget 2025’s commitment is a clear signal that rehabilitation, accountability, and opportunity can go hand-in-hand, setting a precedent for future policies that address root causes of criminal behaviour among youth.