Te Pati Maori says National's new plan to curb youth crime treats rangitahi like a political football

National's Chris Luxon has today unveiled a policy that involves electronically monitoring kids as young as 10, and sending repeat young offenders to military style camps.

Maori Party co-leader, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, says it's a headline-grabbing solution to a complex problem.

She says it's a scheme that could have worked for Sam Uffindell, but the solution for Maori should be about addressing homelessness and poverty.