An up-and-coming restorative justice programme is allowing police to send low-level criminal offenders to a Marae instead of going through the Court system.

The programme aims to reduce Māori offending and victimisation while also reducing pressure on an over-burned criminal justice system.

There are currently eight Iwi community panels - with another five to be operating in the coming months.

NZ police Deputy Chief Executive Māori, Assistant Commissioner Wallace Haumaha, joined Kerre McIvor this morning to talk about the programme and why it's important for New Zealand.

He says this is not just for Māori , but rather is for all ethnicities - however says our prisons are "bulging with offenders who are Māori."

Mr Haumaha says the programme is about helping people to turn their lives around.

LISTEN ABOVE TO THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH KERRE MCIVOR ON THE SUNDAY SESSION