The Right Track founder John Finch said it would start with 12 participants, each with a support person, attending nine sessions over six weeks at venues in Queenstown, Frankton and Arrowtown — including the Queenstown courthouse.
The participants had been referred by a judge or community magistrate as part of their sentencing, and would be coming from Wanaka, Cromwell, Alexandra and the wider Wakatipu area, Mr Finch said.
Each programme usually had 15 participants, but filling up the first intake had been challenging — despite the many drink-driving offenders appearing in the Queenstown and Alexandra district courts in the past few months.
However, it was a "foot in the door" and he was confident demand for places would rise as defence lawyers in the region better understood the programme and convinced more defendants it was in their best interests to take part.
The Queenstown Lakes District Council had helped fund and set up the pilot in partnership with the governance entity behind the programme, the Eduk8 Charitable Trust.
Three more intakes were planned for Queenstown next year.
Mr Finch said he would present the inaugural course alongside The Right Track’s lead South Island facilitator, Duncan Woods.
Among those taking part were police officers, volunteer firefighters, St John ambulance staff and community magistrate Simon Heale.
