Youth Court faces influx as age law changes

The Youth Court could be dealing with up to a thousand more young people when law changes come into force next year and 17-year-olds no longer appear in adult courts. Oranga Tamariki, which runs youth justice residences for some of those on remand and those who have have been sentenced to secure care, say they are well on track to provide enough beds for those who are sent on by the youth court. But it admits it already struggles to turn around the lives of a small hardcore of offenders.