Workshop held in Wellington, 4-5 March 2019

On 4-5 March 2019 the Chief Victims Advisor held the Strengthening the Criminal justice System for Victims workshop. Around 150 victims, victim’s advocates, academics, lawyers, judges and government officials attended this workshop to discuss how to improve the criminal justice system for victims. This workshop was held as part of the wider Hāpaitia te Oranga Tangata, Safe and Effective Justice reform programme.

Background: The Hāpaitia te Oranga Tangata, Safe and Effective Justice reform programme was established to create a better criminal justice system for Aotearoa New Zealand, and to deliver on the Government’s objectives to improve public safety, better support victims of crime, meet our obligations to Māori, and build confidence in the criminal justice system.

A Criminal Justice Summit was held on 20–22 August 2018 in Wellington to launch the programme and start a public conversation. At the Criminal Justice Summit, Hon Andrew Little, the Minister of Justice, reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that the needs of victims are at the heart of any reform of the criminal justice system.

To meet that commitment, Minister Little asked Dr Kim McGregor, Chief Victims Advisor to Government, to develop and host a victim-focused workshop. The ‘Strengthening the Criminal Justice System for Victims Workshop’ was held on 4–5 March 2019 in Wellington.

An online survey was developed to inform the workshop and the wider reform programme. The Strengthening the Criminal Justice System for Victims Survey asked respondents about their experiences in the criminal justice system, what works and doesn’t work, and how the system can be improved. The survey was aimed at people who had experienced crime.

Transcriptions of speeches made by the Chief Victims Advisor to the Government and the Survey report (#6365) can be found on the Chief Victims Advisor's website. Record #6366