The Children's Minister says what boot camp participates do with their experience is up to them

Oranga Tamariki has confirmed two of the pilot programme's participants have faced arrests - although charges were withdrawn for one.

Two of the nine teens are also missing, on top of news one died in a car accident last week.

Appearing before Select Committee, Karen Chhour says these children are back in the community, not locked behind a gate.

She says it would be naive to think the young people would be 100 percent okay, after a few weeks.