Christchurch Criminology Conference: Ihi Research Unveils Groundbreaking Insights into Policing

“The adoption of the ‘partnership approach’ to research with New Zealand Police and the community, overseen by an independent committee, is instructive – it is a world first for this type of work,” Leonard said.

The research reveals insight into the journey to this approach – an initiative focused on equity and justice in policing that sets a new standard for collaboration and innovation in this area.

“Mixing community and police perspectives in the research was very difficult, because we looked at the same data from different perspectives – for example, the police only saw 3% of 5 million interactions, but we would say that it was actually 50% of the Māori complaint data that came from Māori. men, often citing excessive force,” Leonard said.

Ihi Research examined the whakapapa of systems and structures that could reinforce this inequity. They worked with the police as part of an Operational Advisory Group (OAG).

“The panel emphasized a kaupapa Māori approach, challenging us to apply a community-centered perspective that examines systemic inequalities – as opposed to the data-centered, state-centered perspective of policing,” said Leonard.

“As much as the panel had to arbitrate the point of view of Kaupapa Māori, the OAG helped us understand the reality on the front line.

Research interviews revealed that communities with poor relationships with police do not file complaints, leaving critical voices and experiences missing from police data.

“In the five communities of interest, the people we spoke to, like gang members, takatāpui and people who had been Tasered, none of those people had complained, but they wanted to talk to us. “

Superintendent Scott Gemmell, Chairman of the OAG, supports the presentation of the symposium in Christchurch.

InnerBoy App: Kaupapa Māori lens on tane healing to break the cycle of violence

Ihi will present a kaupapa Māori approach to evaluating ‘innerBoy’, an immersive, culturally relevant support tool for men created during the Covid-19 lockdown by Matt Brown, a role model who broke his own cycle of violence.

Designed to help men heal from trauma and reduce violence in their homes, it offers a transformative approach to wellness using technology to create a safe, private space in which men can engage at their own pace .

With more than 20,000 visits to the site since launch and 1,100 active users, economists have calculated the economic impact of the app, using New Zealand Treasury metrics, at a staggering $193.2 million. dollars.

“Matt’s ability to build genuine relationships, even online, creates a powerful network of men who, after healing from trauma, now take ownership of their stories and become catalysts for change in their communities,” said said John Leonard, Managing Director of Ihi Research.

“His courage to own and share his story sparked a ripple effect, forming a group of men who are now powerful circuit breakers in their communities, guiding and supporting others. »

For 56% of men surveyed by Ihi Research, this was the first time they had engaged in anything to change their behavior in the face of their trauma.

“The men came from diverse backgrounds and ages, many having experienced the state protection system or having raised their children there. Most had previously only completed court-ordered counseling, where participation was required,” Leonard said.

“What they like about this approach is its flexibility: they can access it anytime, anywhere: whether at home, in the toilet or on the sofa – without needing to be vulnerable in front of others until they feel ready. »

What the kaupapa Māori research revealed was that InnerBoy motivated Tane not only to begin his journey, but also to share it with his whānau, with his companions and peers, and to start talking to them about how which they do.

“The application, funded by the Ministry of Social Development, is completely free from any judgment. You can start. You can stop. You can wait a week. You can go back to an earlier module, and men find that comforting.

The app recently launched in Australia, where 92 lives have been lost to domestic violence this year. In Australia, the app is supported by a dedicated helpline staffed by trained professionals, creating a strong support network to help users on their journey to recovery.

“They’ve really put effort into creating an ecosystem around the app,” Leonard said.