New Zealand's justice system is "simply not doing the job properly", says Andrew Little, who is attempting to reform the justice system to tackle a rising prison population and a high reoffending rate.
Justice Minister Andrew Little told TVNZ1's Q+A last night New Zealand's reoffending rate was largely unchanged after 20 years.
"We've had this massive increase with the number of people in out prisons, we've got more people serving longer prison sentences... those things don't add up to safer communities."
He said keeping people in prisons longer was "not working".
"We're simply not doing the job properly."
The Justice Minister said the significance of having a 60 per cent reoffending rate means "60 per cent of those in prison will reoffend within two years of being released".
"We've had thirty years of the auction of more penalties, more crime, more people in prison but it's not working, it's not making us safe."
He said a 30 per cent increase in the prison population in the last five years meant "there is something wrong".
He said it was what happened in prison, such as addressing mental health issues and additions in a "methodical, systematic basis across the system that's going to help people and make a difference".
Host Corin Dann asked how he hoped to achieve change across Parliament when National do not have an interest in softening bail or parole laws.
"After 30 years of the type of discourse we've had, we have to change the public debate," Mr Little said.
When asked about Māori representing more than 50 per cent of the prison population and whether the system is racist, Mr Little said he did not think it could be ruled out as a contributing factor.
Mr Little was speaking ahead of the Criminal Justice Summit which starts tonight.
Please find the full interview below.
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