The Green Party is proposing a parallel Maori justice system which it says would help eliminate the impact of "systemic racial profiling" and reduce unjust imprisonment.
Its Maori affairs spokeswoman, Metiria Turei, said she would outline the system tomorrow at the Drivers of Crime conference called by the Government.
"Because Maori are more likely to be stopped and searched, arrested rather than cautioned, and receive higher sentences than Pakeha offenders, Maori crime and imprisonment rates are elevated," she said today.
"The establishment of a Maori justice system that runs alongside the existing legal system, using the education system as a model, will help to eliminate the impact of this systemic racial profiling, reduce the unjust imprisonment of many Maori and stem Maori re-offending."
Justice Minister Simon Power and Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples are hosting the Drivers of Crime conference in Parliament.
The aim is to move beyond the debate about how to deal with criminals and start considering what causes them to commit crimes.
Ms Turei said the Government should work with Maori organisations and experts to establish a tikanga Maori justice system.
"Maori are both over-represented in criminal offending and victimisation, but the two are often linked because of the systemic racial profiling that unjustly criminalises Maori," she said.
"I acknowledge the deep hurt of crime victims and understand their frustrations but a vengeance-based justice system is not the answer. We need to think intelligently about what is actually going to work."
Ms Turei said young people who were not in touch with their culture and felt alienated from wider society needed education and training.
"Trade-based training that leads directly to jobs is a win-win situation for those young people and for New Zealand," she said.
"That's why we urgently need to properly resource alternative education and training, restorative and Maori justice programmes, and the Parole Service."
Mr Power and Dr Sharples have invited a wide range of non-government organisations and agencies to discuss the underlying drivers of crime.
