Justice Centre | 19 Aitken Street
DX SX10125 | Wellington
T: 04 918 8800 |
F: 04 918 8820
E: [email address]
W: www.justice.govt.nz
11 May 2020
John Luke
[FYI request #12603 email]
Dear Mr Luke
Official Information Act Request
Thank you for your email of 11 April 2020 requesting, under the Official Information Act 1982 (the
Act), information relating to people who work on family violence cases for the Ministry of Justice
(the Ministry). Specifically, you asked:
•
“I would like to understand how many people has been endorsement from the Ministry of
Justice to work on family violence cases and their name and bio. Also what is the
requirements for the Ministry to endorse someone from the public.
•
“Also, how many people are on the Ministry of Justice Expert Panel for Domestic Violence
and I would like to request their name and bio, their term of appointments, expert panel
term of reference and how is the Ministry call for nomination from the public, how much
money each member been paid for attend meeting or provide advice.”
In response to your first point, the Family Violence endorsement refers to facilitators delivering
Restorative Justice services under contract to the Ministry. Restorative Justice providers that hold
contracts with the Ministry are required to use trained and accredited facilitators to deliver
Restorative Justice services, and all services must abide by the Restorative Justice Practice Standards
developed by the Ministry of Justice
(https://www.justice.govt.nz/about/lawyers-and-service-
providers/service-providers/restorative-justice-providers/). Resolution Institute, a professional
membership body of dispute resolution practitioners, manages the training, accreditation and family
violence endorsement of facilitators on behalf of the Ministry. The set of criteria, standards and
accreditation process can be found on the Institute’s website (www.resolution.institute/).
As at 31 March 2020, there are 78 Family Violence endorsed facilitators. Please refer to Table 1
attached, which lists the Restorative Justice providers that have at least one facilitator with a Family
Violence endorsement. I am withholding the names of the individual facilitators under s 9(2(a) to
protect their privacy. I am satisfied there are no opposing public interest considerations in favour of
release of this information that outweigh the reasons for withholding it.
I am refusing your request for the biographies of individual facilitators under s 18(g)(i) of the OIA on
the basis that the Ministry does not hold this information and is not aware of any other person or
entity subject to the OIA who does.
On your second point, the Ministry does not have an Expert Panel for Domestic Violence. However,
from the context in your request, you appear to be referring to the expert panel engaged during
2016 for the purposes of updating the Restorative Justice and Family Violence Best Practice
standards for agencies contracted by the Ministry.
This group consisted of Ministry officials, representatives from Resolution Institute and restorative
justice facilitators nominated by their agencies. The group had one on-site two-day meeting. The
purpose of this meeting was to review the existing practice standards and the panel gave further
feedback via a series of conference calls and emails. The review of the practice standards involved
professionals who deliver the service. There was no public nomination process. Participants at the
hui were not paid; however, their travel and accommodation expenses were met by the Ministry.
If you require any further information, please contact Jerram Watts, Acting Team Leader, Media and
External Relations, by calling (04) 918 8980; or emailing [email address].
If you are not satisfied with my response, you have the right to complain to the Ombudsman under
section 28(3) of the Act. The Ombudsman may be contacted by email at
[email address]
Yours sincerely
Hayley MacKenzie
Manager, Provider and Community Service
Table 1. Number of Restorative Justice Family Violence endorsed facilitators as at 31 March 2020
Number of facilitators with
Restorative Justice Provider
Family Violence endorsement
Anglican Family Care Incorporated
4
Ashburton Safer Community Council
1
Auckland Restorative Justice Trust
6
Hawke's Bay Restorative Justice Te Puna Wai Ora Incorporated
2
He Korowai Trust
1
Komiti Marae Orakei Trust
1
Mana Social Services Trust
5
Manawatu Community Justice Trust
6
Manukau Urban Maori Authority
4
Marlborough District Council
2
Nelson Restorative Justice Trust
2
Nga Kete Matauranga Pounamu Charitable Trust
4
Ngati Hine Health Trust
2
Presbyterian Support Central
2
Project Restore NZ Incorporated
2
Restorative Justice Services Ōtautahi Christchurch
4
Taranaki Restorative Justice Trust
4
Tauranga Moana Restorative Justice Trust
4
Te Runanganui o Ngati Porou Trustee Limited
1
Timaru District Council
1
Waitakere Restorative Justice Community Group Trust
8
Waitaki Safer Community Trust
1
Wellbeing North Canterbury Trust
3
Wellington Community Law Centre Incorporated
4
West Coast Restorative Justice
1
Whanganui Restorative Justice Trust
2
Independent contractor
1
