The Court of New Beginnings coordinator Carmel Claridge (R) with a graduate of the court. Photo: RNZ / Amy Williams
A young woman who was homeless and at rock bottom says appearing in a therapeutic court helped her to turn away from petty crime and find stable housing.
Te Kooti o Timatanga Hou - The Court of New Beginnings, is marking 15 years of helping Auckland's rough sleepers stop recurring low-level offending and get off the streets.
Sally* was couch surfing before she became homeless two years ago and turned to petty crime.
After appearing in Auckland District Court and entering a guilty plea, she was referred to Te Kooti o Timatanga Hou - The Court of New Beginnings.
"Living from here, there, everywhere within my family and then coming into this court, getting in trouble actually helped me get on my own two feet."
When participants in The Court of New Beginnings graduate, after working through a set of goals with support workers, their charges are written off, to give them a new start.
"It was a new beginning for me, things that I never had before now I have, things that I couldn't do before I now can do.
"I've just recently been moved into another home and I'm still going through things but I've succeeded in a lot of ways where I didn't succeed before such as my anger so it's helped me mentally within myself."
Auckland District Court. Photo: RNZ / Liu Chen
The court started in 2010 and evaluations have shown that its approach reduces reoffending rates by 66 percent, nights spent in prison by 78 percent and hospital admissions also by 78 percent.
Its co-ordinator Carmel Claridge, is employed by the Salvation Army in the role based at Auckland District Court.
"They often come to [the court] quite broken people, their stories are tragic and heartbreaking in many ways and they present with a myriad of complex issues and challenges. Te Kooti o Timatanga Hou gives many of these people a platform from which to start rebuilding their lives," she said.
"What we like to do is give them the hope and the confidence that they can change their lives for the better and that they can become a meaningful part of society again."
The New Beginnings Court aims to address the underlying legal, social, and health issues that contribute to homelessness and offending, rather than solely focusing on punishment.
The judge sits almost level with participants and there is open dialogue.
"They can tell their story in their own words in their own way and that in itself gives people who, in almost every other area of their lives are totally powerless, it might be the first time they've had an opportunity to voice their concerns, their sense of grievance, what they want from life," Claridge said.
The court's whaea and social worker, Michelle Kidd, set up the court and retired in 2023.
Michelle Kidd. Photo: RNZ / Edward Gay
The 15 year anniversary is bittersweet for those who have been part of it - Judge Tony Fitzgerald has presided over the court since it began and is retiring after 27 years at the bench.
The day RNZ talked to Carmel Claridge, there were knocks at her door from people who had been through the court wanting to pass on their thanks to the judge.
"It's a sign I believe that what happened to them, in their time with the court, had a lasting and profound impact."
Judge Tony Fitzgerald. Photo: RNZ / Amy Williams
Hannah* credits her time in The Court of New Beginnings as giving her a fresh start when she found herself before the court after being deported from Australia.
"For me it was having low income and then I took some food and things and I came before the court for the first time, the New Beginnings Court," she said.
"I feel like I always have a chance and I always want to say hello."
On graduation, participants are given certificiates and awards.
Sally still treasures hers.
"I've got a few certificates, they're still hung up on my wall. It's just not wanting to go backwards really, you don't want to end up where you were, you don't want to end up at square one."
Next Monday, Auckland City Mission is hosting a celebration for the court's 15th anniversary for those involved and past participants.
*Names changed to protect participants' privacy.
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