Christopher Luxon: Prime Minister on the criticism of the Government's boot camp programme

The Prime Minister is standing by the Government's military-style boot camp programme. 

Under the programme, children are spending three months in a youth justice residence and nine months getting community support under the current pilot programme. 

A leaked document from Children's Minister Karen Chhour has suggested giving military-style academy providers the power to use force could increase the risk of abuse. 

But Christopher Luxon told Mike Hosking there are psychologists and social workers involved who are looking after the interests of young people. 

He says they are up at 6:30, in uniform, with a high level of physical training, but they're also writing resumes, thinking about job interviews, and have all the support they need. 

Luxon says that comparing the programme to abuse in state care is disingenuous. 

He told Hosking there was no oversight or monitoring decades ago, but they are now focused on care and rehabilitation. 

He says they have multiple layers of protection, and the checks and balances are there. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.