In a statement issued this afternoon, Minister for Children Karen Chhour strongly condemned the recent incident at the Muriwai Unit in Te Puna Wai Youth Justice Residence, Christchurch. The altercation, initiated by five young individuals, resulted in injuries to five staff members and three other young people. Chhour expressed her concern, stating, “I have requested advice on what current procedures are in place for incidents like this and what more can be done to ensure serious young offenders are held to account for their actions.”
She went on to reveal troubling aspects of the facility’s operations, noting that detainees are given free rein to wander as they please, with staff frequently absent from monitoring their activities. Additionally, Chhour highlighted a longstanding issue of faulty equipment for alerting staff, plaguing the center for more than 10 years.
Underlining the urgency for intervention, she remarked, “No staff member should go to work and feel unsafe.” Chhour extended her sympathies, saying, “My thoughts go out to victims and their families who have been affected by this assault.”
In a critical tone directed at the previous government, Chhour censured their handling of the facility, revealing that detainees have caused thousands of dollars in damages and necessitated police call-outs for escaping to the roof. She declared, “Under Labour, offenders assaulted staff, broke out of facilities, and were appeased with fast food as a bribe to cease their disruptive behavior.” Underscoring her commitment to accountability, she firmly stated, “Those causing trouble within youth justice facilities should anticipate real consequences for their actions.”