The Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Court (AODTC)
Te Whare Whakapiki Wairua - The House That Lifts The Spirit
The AODTC is a therapeutic based court system that prioritises recovery over punishment and offers offenders whose crimes are driven by untreated addictions a pre-sentencing model whereby imprisonment is deferred in favour of an intensive 12-18 month recovery programme.
Judges - together with a multidisciplinary support team - work closely with motivated AODTC participants who through commitment and hard work, make truly transformational changes to their lives, ultimately freeing themselves from the addiction and crime cycle.
“I didn’t know how to stop (using) so my offending continued until I was given the opportunity by the Judge to come into this Court.” Te Whare Whakapiki Wairua participant
The Court’s opening karakia
E Te Atua - to the creator
Ko koe te timatanga - you are the beginning
O ngā mea katoa - of all things seen and unseen
Aroha mai kia mātou - keep us in your caring embrace
Mō ēnei mahi katoa I tēnei rā - in all that we do this day
Ake ake āmine - ongoing, we agree.
‘She was a slave to drugs - until the drug court took her out of jail.’ Read the full article here
“With the support I got from the court, I managed to give up drugs and alcohol and I'm now over three years clean.” Te Whare Whakapiki Wairua participant
You can read more about the work of the court here