The Budget underlined the Government's desire to avoid a "lock them up and throw away the key" approach to youth offending.
A project called Fast Track targeting repeat ram-raiders is being expanded beyond Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland.
On Friday Prime Minister Chris Hipkins supported another project in Kirikiriroa/Hamilton where rangatahi (young people) are setting the rules.
The Rangatahi Hub, funded by the Government and Hamilton City Council, is a safe and desirable place for kids who haven't always had the rub of the green.
"I haven't played pool in years as you're all about to see," Hipkins told the crowd of rangatahi.
"This could be a slow game," he added.
Youth leader Mychail Harris-Hill told Newshub the Rangatahi Hub is a place where they set the rules for each other.
"[It's about getting] their ideas into the building and what they want, instead of what the adults want for the kids. Because if you get what the kids want, they'll be here all the time," he said.
Two young men at the Hub, Kade Mackley and Zarian Growe-Lelesi, have already painted up the place.
"This is our place, they just let us roam free with the building," said Mackley.
"Yeah 'cause we know what the rules are," Growe-Lelesi chimed in.
Nicole Coupe, CEO of Kirikiriroa Family Services Trust, said adults at the Hub take the back seat - they simply help it happen.
"They [the rangatahi] came up with this, supporting the name, they've set the tikanga; all the rules. They'll be the ones that keep the door open when they need it."
There's plenty to keep them here: a common room, indoor and outdoor games, music room, art room, zen room and a smash room if they're angry - get the picture?
Rangatahi Hub user Kingston Hawera is 15, a wannabe league player, and by his own admission he's subject to good and bad influences.
"If it wasn't for my grandmother being here, I'd say that I wouldn't really be where I'm at - in terms of school, in terms of a house - I would be a really bad influence to my siblings, but this place has done a lot for me," he told Newshub.
Harris-Hill said it's also a place where rangatahi can find some headspace, get a bite to eat or lay their heads if it all gets too much.
"They want it to be 24/7, so if a rangatahi is stranded, they could just come in and stay the night, eat, and play around until they figure out their situation," he said.
Meanwhile, Hamilton Area Police Commander Andrea McBeth said police are only too happy to support the project.
"Wow. We left that meeting not asking ourselves: is this something we want to be involved in? We left saying how can we not be part of this?"
The Prime Minister also sees it as a way forward for the rest of the country.
"I absolutely want to ensure that young people face the consequences when they are involved in youth offending, but in the way we approach that, we're ensuring we get them back on the straight and narrow," Hipkins said.
It's taken a while, but local projects like the Rangatahi Hub may hold the key to curbing youth crime.
