55984 (2024). Hon Dr Duncan Webb to the Minister of Justice

55984 (2024). Hon Dr Duncan Webb to the Minister of Justice: What systems exist within the justice system to ensure that victims receive the things to which they are entitled under the Victims Rights Act 2002?

Hon Paul Goldsmith: I am advised that all agencies have certain obligations to victims and are responsible for implementing their own systems to meet those obligations to victims. Section 49 of the Victims Rights Act requires all agencies to provide complaint systems for victims. For example, at the Ministry of Justice, victims can make complaints through the general complaints pathway. Some agencies are named in the Act as having special obligations: - ACC, - Health New Zealand, - the Department of Corrections, - the Ministry of Justice, - the Ministry of Social Development, - the New Zealand Police, - the Crown Law Office, - the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment. Special obligations on the Ministry of Justice are to provide information on services to victims and to publish information about complaints in their annual report. The Ministry of Justice also manages the contract with Manaaki Tāngata Victim Support who provide tailored immediate and short-term emotional support, practical assistance, information, referrals to other agencies and support through the criminal justice system and coronial process. Victim Support also administers the Victim Assistance Scheme. The Scheme provides financial assistance to victims to support them to engage with the criminal justice process and so receive their entitlements under the Act. The Scheme addresses a range of costs associated with: - counselling, - travel and accommodation, - court attendance and displacement due to crime scene cordons, - and to address immediate financial costs should they arise. The Chief Victims Advisor to Government provides independent advice about victims’ issues to the Minister of Justice including victims’ experiences of the justice system and if their rights are being met. The Justice Sector Victims’ Leadership Board administers the Better Outcomes for Victims work programme. The work programme is a three-year initiative to improve victims’ experience of the justice system. It includes legislation to better protect child and adult victims of sexual violence, litigation abuse, and operational initiatives to improve agency support and safety for victims of serious crimes. The Victims Information website provides accessible information on all of these issues to victims and their support people, advocates and professionals. The information provided includes contact details and complaint pathways for different agencies, rights and obligations and how to navigate the criminal justice system.