Government makes drug court permanent in justice shake-up

Specialist drug and alcohol courts in Auckland will be made permanent and a new one will be opened in Hamilton, Justice Minister Andrew Little has announced as part of a pre-election-year promise for major reform of the justice system. Releasing two independent reports that deeply criticise the sector, Little on Thursday said the Government would
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Joe Williams first Māori judge appointed to Supreme Court

Justice Joseph Victor Williams is the first Māori lawyer to be appointed a Supreme Court judge. He replaces Sir William Young, who has been named to chair the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Christchurch terror attacks.
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Inside the Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Court: Helping addicts help themselves

The Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Court supports users who want to break their habit. It’s a successful system, so why might it be shut down, asks Paul Little. Mr J was found asleep at the wheel after crashing into a tree with a half-drunk bottle of whisky in his lap. He is appearing before
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Problem solving courts: Some lessons from New Zealand

On 24 and 25 January I attended the Future Directions of the Adult Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Courts Conference at the University of Auckland. After six successful years running as a pilot in two locations, the AODTC is at a crucial crossroad – in the coming months the New Zealand government will decide whether to make
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‘Today I make better choices’: How NZ’s Drug Court changed a man’s life

'Today I make better choices': How NZ's Drug Court changed a man's life. But that all changed when he was given an opportunity three years ago to have his sentence transferred to the Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Court.
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Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Courts transforming lives

Society tends to offer little sympathy to drug addicts and alcoholics who commit crime to feed their addiction. After all, many end up on an endless cycle of prison lags only to use drugs inside where they learn new ways of committing crime through hardened career criminals. But what if addiction was treated as a
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Addiction courts save millions in prison costs

Two alcohol and drug courts have saved $28.7 million in prison costs over a six year pilot. Reporter Teuila Fuatai spent a day in one of the courts, and got an inside view of what could be one answer to NZ’s unsustainable prison system. With more than 10,000 people behind bars and total prison costs
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Government to roll out specialised drug and alcohol courts from 2018

Courts dedicated to drug and alcohol related offences are to be rolled out across New Zealand in 2018. These specialised courts work with people through their journey of addiction, not just treat them as another cog in the justice system, says Justice Minister Andrew Little. That’s why he is exploring with various Ministries the benefits of
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Alcohol and Drug Court pilot extended

The Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment (AODT) Court pilot has been extended for a further three years, Justice and Courts Minister Amy Adams announced today. The AODT Court pilot, which began in November 2012 in the Waitakere and Auckland District Courts, aims to help reduce alcohol and drug use, reoffending and imprisonment. It identifies offenders
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Justice: Our People, Our Communities

New Zealand Ministry of Justice releases publication on latest initiatives for justice which includes discussion of the two Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Courts, Te Whare Whakapiki Wairua (The House that Heals the Spirit), and their success. Read more HERE New Zealand Ministry of Justice, November 2015
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Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Court marks two years of a new approach

The adult Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment (AODT) Court, Te Whare Whakapiki Wairua, (The House that Heals the Spirit), which sits at the Auckland and Waitakere District Courts, marked its two-year anniversary in early November this year. In honour of the occasion, pioneering international Drug Court expert, Judge Peggy Hora, visited from her San Francisco base,
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