New Zealand’s existing youth justice framework already holds young people accountable for offending. It’s a sad day in New Zealand when we see our youth justice laws regressing away from the very obligations that the State is duty-bound to uphold. This law completely goes against the urgent recommendation of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child that New Zealand should ensure its youth justice system is consistent with children’s rights.” “Nothing that is military-style in character should be written into New Zealand youth justice law as a sentencing option. “This Bill goes against the Youth Justice Principles in section 208 of the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989, which make clear that youth justice measures should focus rehabilitative, therapeutic and strengths-based measures that take the least restrictive form.