Applying to Te Kaahui | Criminal Cases Review Commission to review a case

Te Kaahui Tātari Ture | Criminal Cases Review Commission has received more than 325 applications from men and women who all believe they have been affected by a miscarriage of justice that has their criminal records listing them as murderers, sexual offenders, or perpetrators of violence.

Since Te Kaahui was set up in Hamilton in 2020, the Commission has referred its first miscarriage of justice case to an appeal court in December of last year after establishing that a young person was sentenced to a term of imprisonment at an adult prison, at the age of 15, contrary to sentencing laws at the time.

While most applications have been received from European men, the majority of the incarcerated population in New Zealand are young Māori men under 39 years of age.

Head of Communications and Engagement, Nick Maaka says it’s important the Commission reaches out to young Māori men and women who lack understanding about the extent to which they may have been wrongly convicted of a criminal offence or wrongly sentenced in a criminal court in New Zealand.

“If you or one of your whānau members believe they have been wrongfully locked up in jail and convicted of a criminal offence or wrongly sentenced in a criminal court in New Zealand, please read about the CCRC’s application process on our website at:
www.ccrc.nz.

Maaka says the website will help you and whānau to understand how the Commission works and how to make an application.