[kejktfc]

Hi all,

I have done a bit of googling, but not really found what I want, and hoping this community could help.

We are hoping to get our ticket over to NZ and this will be on the back of my wife who is in Nursing (children), with her as the main applicant. We are looking at the Auckland area as we feel the Starship will be a good start. I am a retired Royal Naval Officer who has worked in professional sport for the last 3 years, however I too wish to find employment.

The key being for myself is when I left the RN in 2003 I went on to do a Degree in Criminology with an emphasis on youth crime and and youth sociology. For the last 5 years I have been involved as a volunteer with our Youth Offending Team, and interestingly, the whole process of restorative justice in the UK is based on the New Zealand Maori principle. I have chaired panels, been involved with one to one work, and just wondered how I could get involved, either paid or volunteering over in NZ.

I have secured a position in teaching WITH 'problem' youths etc etc from Sept this year in the UK, however would love to think I wouldn't need to take this position up if all fell in to place, BUT would like to follow that path in NZ. All advice welcome.

Thanks

kejktfc

[peebles16]

There are a number of restorative justice projects all over New Zealand and not necessarily with just youth. The approach seems to be used with all groups, is used for relatively minor criminal matters and most use panel of local community members etc. Youth Offending community service programmes also in place and wonder if that's more the kind of thing you are thinking of? Young people given community service and then go on programme sometimes managed by Police, Youth Aid or NGO dependent on contract. These can range from a couple of hours per week removing tagging to a fuller programme designed to target reasons for offending as well as community service hours. Funding for these projects varies but might be worth looking at Ministry of Justice website - specifically Crime Prevention and Criminal justice. Also some local authorities fund these projects through community & recreation departments.

Hope my ramblings help a bit :)

Karenx