Victoria University staff and alumni appointed to new governmental justice advisory group
Several people associated with Victoria University of Wellington’s Faculty of Law have been appointed to the Safe and Effective Justice Programme Advisory Group—Te Uepū Hāpai i te Ora, a new advisory group for the Ministry of Justice, including Senior Lecturer Dr Carwyn Jones, former staff member Dr Warren Young and Law alumni Hon Chester Borrows and Julia Whaipooti. Professor Tony Ward from the School of Psychology was also appointed.
Minister of Justice Hon Andrew Little announced the formation of the group at a press conference at Parliament.
The group comprises eight members from across New Zealand who will “work alongside Justice Sector agencies on a prudent and realistic scope for effective criminal justice reform,” Minister Little said in an announcement.
“This Government believes New Zealand should be the best place in the world to live and raise a family. Our justice system must play its part in that. We are determined to confront the challenges with a hope and belief that we can and should do better for whanau and communities today, and for future generations,” said Minister Little.
Speaking about his appointment, Dr Carwyn Jones says “It’s a little daunting given the challenges our justice system is confronting, but I’m excited to be able to help engage the New Zealand public on these issues in a way that I hope will contribute to making our justice system work better for all of us.”
The advisory group is part of a wider initiative to review New Zealand’s justice system that will also include a Criminal Justice Summit later this year.