Author of case study: Marcela Torres

Geopolitical location of space:
Whanganui
Nueva Zelanda

Extant? Yes

Architect:
Original architect unknown

Timeframe RJ/TJ process in this space:

Start date: November 2020

Background information:

The Whanganui Restorative Justice Trust (established in 1999) is a nationally accredited provider of “the Court referred and victim focused restorative justice programme.” In 2012, they decided to take the principles of restorative justice into the community and established the Whanganui Restorative Practices Trust, a charitable non-government organisation working towards New Zealand’s first Restorative City.

Is restorative  justice actually taking place in this space?

Yes, in this space they hold restorative conferences and interviews with prisoners and survivors. However it is important to differentiate between the two organisations working on this site:

First, there is the Whanganui Restorative Practices Trust, which operates a centre of restorative practices in the city of Whanganui. The mission of the centre is to implement restorative practices in the community in order to:

• build and repair relationships
• help participants build confidence and control over their lives
• encourage participants to take responsibility for their own actions and repair harm caused to others

Second, there is the Whanganui Restorative Justice Trust, a nationally accredited provider of restorative justice programs. They manage cases referred to them by the Court and their work is focused on victims. They work in collaboration with the police, courts, and the Ministry of Education, and are run by community-based groups that are contracted to the Ministry of Justice.

Is this space designed/arranged for safe listening?

Yes, in November 2020 they moved into a new office, where they have arranged spaces for safe listening. Before this, they were working out of a police station, which one of the centre’s administrators described as “not suitable for [restorative practice] use”. 

Who is the audience/the intended participants for this space?

The Whanganui Restorative Justice Trust works on cases referred to them by the Court, including prisoners and  survivors. The Whanganui Restorative Practices Trust works with any member of the community, including schools and their students.

How or to what extent is this space public?

It is a private office space belonging to the Whanganui Restorative Justice Trust and operated by the charitable non-governmental organization, i.e. the Whanganui Restorative Practices Trust.

Physical/factual description of space:

The office space contains two rooms where restorative justice conferences take place. One is a boardroom, which has a big screen to interview prisoners and survivors who live in different parts of the country.

The other room is smaller with a round table and chairs, and a ceramic centrepiece depicting people sitting in a circle holding hands, adding a symbolic element to the conference room. One of the organisation’s administrators (Jenny) described it as “not an especially interesting room.” She also added, “one of our trustees is the Deputy Principal of a girl’s school, and they have a dedicated room where they hold restorative conferences.”

All the spaces are very neutral and neat, with white walls and very little decoration. The furniture uses a combination of blue and grey colours with honey-coloured wood. The spaces have natural lighting; the spaces use  blinds or stained glass to ensure privacy and confidentiality.

Analytical description of space:

Population of Whanganui:  39,400 (Jun. 2019)

The office space is located in the middle of Whanganui. The small city is part of the International Learning Community (ILC) established in 2014, and it is the “first city in New Zealand to work towards a Restorative City” (Restorative Practices Whanganui).

The centre was previously located in a community police station in a suburb of the city. The new space is much bigger and it has provided an opportunity to arrange the space according to the centre’s needs, as well as to become more visible to the community.