The principal Youth Court judge says a report shows the justice system is failing the country's serious young offenders.
The Social Development Ministry report found four out of five young people reoffend in the first two years following a court-imposed supervision order.
Judge Andrew Becroft says it confirms his worst fears that the current youth laws do not go far enough.
He says these teenage offenders are mainly boys who are tough to work with, and the justice system needs to be improved to help them.
