By JONATHON HOWE - Manawatu Standard
Youth justice in Manawatu has been praised as world renowned by a pair of visiting Scots during their month-long fact-finding mission throughout the lower North Island. Glasgow residents Neil MacDougall, a community constable, and Marie Gannon, a youth justice worker for Glasgow City Council, are part of a five-member team on a Rotary-funded group study exchange to New Zealand. Accompanied by senior constables Scott Mackenzie and John Samuela, the pair visited youth services and organisations with youth-orientated schemes in Feilding on Thursday. Ms Gannon said she was impressed with how the relationships between police, youth workers and young people had a positive effect on offending rates. "What we've noticed is probably what New Zealand's internationally renowned for – the restorative work." Multi-agency youth schemes, such as Rock On Initiative, appeared to be helped by the close knit nature of New Zealand society, she said. "The sense of community in New Zealand is very strong, not just in Feilding, but in the whole of New Zealand."