Winiata’s Blog

My uncle Winiata Hamlin is a policeman in Wairoa. He has been involved in a CACTUS training programme for at-risk youth in Wairoa. CACTUS stands for Combined Adolescent Challenge Training Unit & Support.

It has already been tried in Picton – a boot camp for young people has lowered youth crime in the area by 82%. Mike McRoberts comes from Wairoa, so 60 Minutes travelled there to see exactly how the initiative works, and whether it could make a difference to a town where a quarter of all crime is committed by under 17 year olds.

With relentless physical training, very early starts, and group punishments for individual slip ups, boot camp is hard work.  Twenty-five young people started the training with varying degrees of motivation. The group were aged between 13yrs and 16yrs old. Some were volunteers and some were recommended for the training.

CACTUS is a programme of physical training developed from the Armed Forces programme. It is designed to extend a young person’s mind and physical capability. The CACTUS course runs for eight weeks, with three one hour training sessions per week of progressively harder physical routines.The programme also includes career education, motivational speakers and mentoring with a view to having youth reach their full potential. CACTUS aims to grow and develop the skills and attitudes young people need to take part in society, now and in the future.Source – developmentwairoa.co.nz, 60 Minutes  (02-06-08)