NUPE views on Oranga Tamariki Military Styled Academy

At the heart of Aotearoa’s youth justice transformation lies a bold initiative born out of urgency and hope — the Military Style Academy (MSA), proudly piloted from Te Aurere, a site long regarded as a stronghold of traditional residential practice. Today, we celebrate its establishment and the early wins that reflect the strength of its kaupapa and the dedication of those who made it possible.

Best "Boot Camp" Ever

MSA isn’t just a programme — it’s a purposeful intervention that blends military-style structure with therapeutic care, cultural grounding, physical education, and community re-integration, tailored for some of our most high-needs rangatahi. From the outset, it sought to do more than manage behaviour. It aimed to rebuild identity, restore connection, and rekindle hope.

Designed for Change, Delivered with Purpose

NUPE represents many of the staff that were involved in the programme who provided positive feedback on the programme, how it was developed and delivered. These are experienced and dedicated practitioners with a personal commitment to the support and development of some of New Zealand’s most vulnerable and complex young people. For many, the programme reinforced their personal motivations for working in this sector and were invigorated as the programme provided a means to effectively deliver an intervention that they could see, works.

From the first cohort of 11 Māori rangatahi aged 15–17, MSA stood out in both design and delivery. Unlike standard youth justice residences, MSA provided:

• Two weeks of intensive training for kaimahi, held at the Trentham Military Base, grounding staff in military routines and the Good Lives Model (GLM) of rehabilitation.

• A multidisciplinary team that included clinical staff, cultural leads, social workers, and youth workers — all working side by side, on the floor, with rangatahi.

• Structured routines, physical training, and an unwavering focus on teamwork, role modelling, and boundaries that created a sense of safety and order.

• Cultural supervision and Mana Tāne programming, helping rangatahi reconnect with their whakapapa and Māori identity.

MSA kaimahi and stakeholders described the experience as a step forward from traditional youth justice models, citing the programme’s intensive, consistent, and respectful approach. And the rangatahi noticed — “We felt like the staff actually cared. They were there every day, doing it with us,” one participant shared.

NUPE highlights however that Youth Justice Residences, prior to the underinvestment and lack of support over successive organisational restructures were always designed and intended to have strong programming, strong training, supervision, cultural support and a multi-disciplinary team. It is a fundamental need that all residences are grounded in routine, whakawhanaungatanga and have explicit meaning and intention. It is our view that the MSA has reinvigorated elements that work, that again need to be rolled out across all residences as the standard for residential youth work.

Early Outcomes: Strength in Every Domain

The programme’s impact was framed around Te Whare Tapa Whā, and the preliminary evaluations show promising gains:

• Taha Wairua: Rangatahi re-engaged with te ao Māori, especially through noho marae, mau rākau, and cultural wānanga. They expressed more pride in who they are and where they come from.

• Taha Tinana: Regular physical education improved fitness, health, and confidence. Health conditions were addressed — sometimes for the first time.

• Taha Hinengaro: Clinical staff noticed rangatahi expressing themselves more clearly and resolving conflicts verbally. Emotional self-awareness grew significantly.

• Taha Whānau: Stronger relationships with family emerged. Some rangatahi encouraged their younger siblings to stay in school and help at home — a significant shift in mindset.

• Increased Safety: Notably, there were no physical altercations between rangatahi or with staff — a remarkable achievement compared to typical youth justice environments.

Seamless Transitions into the Community

Following the 12-week residential phase, rangatahi transitioned into the community supported by intensive mentorship and customised transition plans. This continuity of care proved invaluable. Transition from residential care to community has forever been a hot point in the justice journey. MSA transitional support has paved a foundation upon which if built upon will see the strongest reintegration seen since the inception of residential services.

Despite some participants returning to residence, the data showed that rangatahi spent significantly more time in the community than in any previous transition. Even where reoffending occurred, the severity and frequency was reduced, and rangatahi demonstrated growth in resilience and self-management. The intensity of this support must be built on and made the standard for all young people reintegrating from residences, it is the way forward.

For anyone with experience or awareness of delivery of intensive youth offending targeted interventions, you will know that it is difficult and dynamic work. It is critical work. The need for radical and inspired change in young people’s life is urgent due to that offending behaviour is so high risk not only for the community but for the young person at the centre of the programme. This programme has seen a robust intervention resourced and delivered with Oranga Tamariki committed to further resourcing and strengthening the programme.

New Zealand in on the right path with the current think tank. Long may they maintain their positions! (PS JOIN THE UNION)

Addressing the Critics: What the Naysayers Get Wrong

Despite these clear indicators of success, the MSA pilot faced sharp public criticism.

Opposition politicians, child advocacy groups, and some media outlets accused the programme of being punitive, outdated, and doomed to fail. Many have jumped on the bandwagon foolishly likening the programme to a facilitated child abuse camps. The Labour Party, Green Party, Te Pāti Māori, and the Children’s Commissioner were among those who labelled it "cruel," "heinous," and "a failed idea from the past." Headlines claimed the programme lacked military legitimacy due to the absence of NZDF staff and questioned the cost of supporting only a small cohort.

These critiques, however, fundamentally misunderstand the MSA model and show a disregard of any common sense and awareness of what works in terms of addressing youth offending.

Here’s why:

1. This is not a ‘boot camp’: Te Aurere's programme does not rely on punishment or drill sergeants. It is rooted in therapeutic care, restorative practice, and cultural identity-building. The military elements are limited to structured routines and physical training to promote teamwork and discipline, not coercion. Our members delivering the programme are professional youth workers committed to facilitating change and know, that this can only be achieved by creating a safe environment for healing and therapeutic care.

2. It works: Preliminary evaluation shows rangatahi experienced no violence, developed self-awareness, improved whānau relationships, and maintained longer community placements post-residence — with fewer and less severe offences. Our members were able to enjoy a safe working environment that was rewarding and invigorating, doing what they have committed their career pathways to.

3. Staff were not only trained — they were exceptional: Every kaimahi underwent intensive training, received supervision, and worked as part of a high-functioning multidisciplinary team. Clinical care and post-residential transition support were embedded into the programme. From a union perspective, we advocate for this for every member across all residences.

4. Culture is not an afterthought — it’s the heart: Tikanga lead practice was central to programme delivery. Noho marae, te reo Māori, mau rākau, and Mana Tāne were highlights. Rangatahi reconnected with their whakapapa and te ao Māori, which many identified as the most transformative part of the programme. This once the norm across residences signals a promising future for residential care.

5. The whānau connection was real: Parents reported significant positive changes. Some rangatahi became mentors to their siblings. This isn't failure — it's foundational change.

Final Word: Evidence Over Ideology : From our Practice Specialist.

Critics may remain attached to ideological positions. As a union we are critical of the un-informed comments made in media by some child advocates and other in the public arena. Many commentators lack any insight, any real and tangible evidence and are dangerously politicking with young people’s lives. Members who put themselves forward to deliver this programme did so with integrity and were attacked. Our focus is safety for our members who are committed to and work with these young people.

Te Aurere’s MSA pilot wasn’t a punitive throwback — it was an evidence-informed, culturally anchored, and trauma-responsive intervention. It reimagined care and responsibility for a group of rangatahi often written off. Staff were empowered. Whānau were included. Rangatahi were respected.

If we are serious about reducing youth reoffending, we must invest in what works — and MSA at Te Aurere is working.

NUPE seeks to acknowledge leadership that has progressed this programme and we advocate strongly that the positive elements of the programme are rolled out to other residences. These elements are the foundations of youth work practice. Routines, consistency, purpose. NUPE celebrates that staff were provided an opportunity to work in a safe environment, be supported and developed, to practice with purpose, a purpose that calls many individuals to work in residential services.

Commentary by NUPE – National Union of Public Employees.

Mathew Glanville – Subject Matter Expert