MARCH 2017
CORRECTIONS
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Corrections Works is published
quarterly by the Department
of Corrections
Private Box 1206 Wellington 6140
P 04 460 3365
E [email protected]
www.corrections.govt.nz
ON THE COVER:
Dog Handler Karina Thomas and drug
detector dog Jesse at Auckland Prison.
2
Welcome to the first
edition of Corrections
Works for 2017. As
you will see, we have
had a busy start to the
year, with progress
in important areas
such as mental health,
supporting people back
into the community and
upgrading our probation
sites to improve staff
safety and enhance
the services we can
offer to offenders in
the community.
4Drug dog team curtail contraband
6 Matawhāiti opens for residents
7Introducing our new Community
Engagement and Reintegration role
8New guided releases help prisoners
find their feet
9New mental health and reintegration
programme
10Helping mothers inside the wire
10Prisoners write creatively
11 From our Minister
11 Take a look at our refreshed website
12 Regional highlights
16New Hawera Community Corrections
site opens
MARCH 2017
CON T EN TS
from our Chief Executive
L
ast year I signalled that mental health and alcohol
and other drug support was one of our eight action
areas. We’re making a significant investment in
improving offenders’ mental health, including
a new $14 million mental health package. The Mental
Health and Reintegration Programme is being rolled out
to selected community and prison sites around the country.
The aim is to increase mental health support for offenders
in prison and the community (page 9).
In February we opened New Zealand’s first secure unit
for people subject to a Public Protection Order (PPO). The
new facility is based on the grounds of Christchurch Men’s
Prison. The residents aren’t prisoners; this is a civil detention
residence and the intention is to protect the community from
people who have finished their prison sentence but still pose
a serious public safety risk (page 6).
Most people will leave prison, and Guided Release will
help them make a successful return to the community
(page 8). With the involvement of other agencies, we
help newly released prisoners with tasks most of us
take for granted such as opening bank accounts, finding
accommodation and attending job interviews. We want
to help people get settled on the outside as much as we
can so they can live crime free and not go back to prison.
It was my privilege to open Hawera Community
Corrections’ new premises at the end of January (page 16).
Since then we have also opened Hamilton Community
Corrections, which brings together six separate sites into
one central hub. These new sites offer modern facilities,
improved security and dedicated areas for rehabilitation
and living skills programmes for offenders.
Finally, on the cover you’ll see one of our handlers
and her drug detector dog. I have followed the progress
of our dog teams with interest ever since I went out with
Maurice and his dog at Waikeria Prison when I first started
at Corrections. In this issue, we meet Karina Thomas and
Jesse, one of our 19 dog teams who carry out invaluable
work keeping contraband out of our prisons.
Our people – and dogs – work hard to prevent any
contraband such as drugs, drug paraphernalia, tattoo
equipment and cellphones from entering prisons. We do a lot
of work gathering intelligence, conducting searches, enhancing
security and making use of technology such as x-ray machines
and video surveillance, but we couldn’t do without our amazing
four-legged friends and their fabulous trainers. ■
Ray Smith
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
DE PAR TME N T O F CO R R E CTI O N S
CORRECTIONS WORKS
3
Drug dog team
CURTAIL CONTRABAND
Finding a used meth pipe concealed
in a cookie bag is all in a day’s work
for dog handler Karina Thomas (KT)
and her drug detector dog Jesse.
B
ased at Auckland Prison, KT and Jesse, a five-yearold Kelpie cross, carry out daily search operations
on prison grounds, in vehicles, units and cells,
and prisoners’ mail and property. Other searches
include new arrivals, prisoners on transfer, and visitors
and contractors coming into the prison.
“Anyone coming in the front gate of the prison could be
searched by a drug dog,” says KT. “It’s the three D’s. We
detect odours, deter contraband coming in by being visible,
and disrupt their plans with routine or unplanned checks.”
As a dog handler, KT loves the variety of work. “We’re in
and out of units; working on information to find contraband.
We’re a key player in ensuring the safety of staff and
prisoners.”
Jesse is trained to find drugs such as methamphetamine,
cocaine, heroin, ecstasy and cannabis. Other detector dogs
are trained to find contraband items such as cellphones and
tobacco.
It was during a routine property search that Jesse
indicated on the cookie bag. “We were searching through
the property of a prisoner. The property goes through an
x-ray machine and is then examined by a detector dog.
Jesse indicated on the cookie bag and we found a meth
pipe with residue. This was a great find as meth pipes are
usually found in vehicles.”
Prior to graduating as a dog handler, KT was a corrections
officer at Christchurch Women’s Prison.
When applications opened for handlers in 2012, KT jumped
at the chance. Her first dog was redeployed to Samoa as a
Customs detector dog, and she met Jesse in 2013 at the
Police Dog Training Centre in Trentham.
4
+ KT and Jesse search a prisoner’s cell.
“Jesse was discovered at the Blenheim pound by the
Police who were scouting for suitable dogs. As with most
pound dogs, her history was unknown but she had traits
that are sought after in service dogs.”
Essential traits are a strong hunting instinct, trainability
and a good work ethic. KT says that detector dogs need to
be ‘environmentally sound’.
“Dogs have to walk on shiny floors, go up and down stairs,
and be up high on top of landings in units. They need to be
confident, independent, strong little animals. Imagine
walking down a landing with a whole bunch of prisoners
banging and yelling, so the dog can’t be easily frightened.”
Corrections’ puppy breeding programme aims to be
less reliant on the unknown quantity of ‘pound pups’.
The programme breeds spaniels, labradors and German
short-haired pointers.
Since becoming a dog handler, KT has entered both
the Corrections and Police national dog trials. The duo has
been regularly placed in both competitions, and in 2016,
they came first in the Corrections’ trials and second in
the national Police champs.
“We’re
a key player in ensuring the
“We’re a key player in ensuring
safety
and
prisoners.”
the
safetyof
ofstaff
staff and
prisoners.”
of contraband items include cellphones
+ Eandxamples
tobacco.
Contraband finds are down
+ Handlers share a strong bond with their dogs.
A find that stands out for KT occurred during a routine
search when Jesse indicated on a prisoner’s prosthesis.
“Inside, wrapped in black tape, glad wrap, black pepper
and more glad wrap was a plug of cannabis,” says KT.
“Jesse could smell it through all those layers.”
Last year, Corrections’ Dog Section celebrated its
25th anniversary and now has a total of 19 detector dogs
in New Zealand prisons.
Corrections’ Manager Specialist Search John Gallagher
says, “Our dog teams have proven very effective at detecting
contraband.
“We have good relationships with our partner agencies
and work closely with them to ensure we’re keeping up with
new types of contraband and new ways of smuggling.” ■
Due to Corrections’ improved screening measures,
contraband finds decreased so far this year
(as at February 2017) compared to 2015-16.
At Auckland Prison there have been 43 drug finds
down from 108 the previous year, and 55 tattoo
equipment items down from 117. Nationally,
280 communication devices were found compared
to 414 for the previous year, drugs were down to
398 from 712, and alcohol finds were down from
384 to 229.
Dog Squad
TVNZ’s popular Dog Squad series features detector
dogs from Corrections, Police, Customs and other
agencies. KT and Jesse featured in series 7 episode
9, which can be viewed on TVNZ OnDemand.
DE PAR TME N T O F CO R R E CTI O N S
CORRECTIONS WORKS
5
Matawhāiti
opens for residents
Minister of Corrections Hon Louise Upston officially opened New Zealand’s first secure
residence for people subject to a Public Protection Order (PPO) on 15 February 2017.
L
ocated on the grounds of Christchurch Men’s Prison,
the Matawhäiti Residence accommodates up to
24 people, and is designed to balance enhanced
public safety with appropriate detention and
rehabilitation.
Matawhäiti means to be cautious, prudent, careful
and tactful.
Residents are subject to a civil detention order and are
not prisoners. They are deemed by psychologists and the
courts to be of very high and imminent risk to the public
of causing violent and/or sexual harm. Detention is intended
to be protective for the community rather than punitive for
the resident.
Each resident has a personalised programme with goals
that contribute towards reducing their risk. The programmes
take into account the individual’s physical and mental health
requirements, cultural needs, existing skills and capacity
to acquire more, rehabilitation and reintegration needs and
aspirations for personal development.
Under the Public Safety (Public Protection Orders) Act
2014, residents are afforded as much autonomy and quality
of life as possible while keeping them, and everyone in the
community, safe.
+ Matawhäiti Residence at Christchurch Men’s Prison.
6
Matawhäiti is a 1.055ha community-like secure facility,
surrounded by a four metre electric fence. When completed,
it will have eight blocks of three self-contained residential
units. Two blocks have been built to date, offering six
residential units.
Each 27m2 unit has a living room, bedroom, bathroom,
kitchenette, laundry facilities and a small garden and
veranda area.
A community/administration building includes a large
communal space, a shared kitchen, respite room, spaces
for private visits and secure staff administrative and
management spaces. The facility is surrounded by open
grassed areas and space for future vegetable gardens. These
provide for residents’ outdoor recreation and exercise needs.
To date, Matawhäiti has 10 permanent and eight on-call
staff. Their role is to protect the community and support
residents with their rehabilitation and reintegration.
Matawhäiti currently has two residents. ■
on Louise Upston officially opened the Matawhäiti
+ HResidence.
INTRODUCING OUR NEW
Community Engagement and Reintegration role
Corrections has created a new community
adviser role to improve public understanding
about how we manage offenders with high
and complex needs in the community.
N
ine Senior Advisers – Community Engagement
and Reintegration were inducted in late February.
They will be based in regional offices around
the country.
Brent Reilly from the High and Complex Needs Project
says the adviser role is breaking new ground for Corrections
in terms of liaising with communities.
“It’s their job to engage with communities when an
offender returns to the area to ensure people understand
how our practices and processes are designed to keep
everyone safe.
“The new role will focus on broadening public
understanding of our work, particularly relating to how we
manage serious offenders in the community, and to support
the formal notification process when offenders who have
offended against children are released from prison, and
reintegrated into communities.”
Evidence shows that the best efforts towards
rehabilitation occur when someone returns to a supportive
community. For some offenders finding accommodation can
be very difficult and lack of accommodation can escalate
an offender’s risk.
The senior advisers will be building relationships with
property managers/accommodation providers, other agencies
(eg Ministry of Social Development, NGOs) to help find
multiple suitable accommodation options for offenders within
the region and nationally that frontline staff can access.
“Our community advisers will focus on building
relationships with schools, local bodies and other stakeholders
to broaden public understanding of our work. They’ll support
communities when Corrections notifies them about offenders
returning to their communities to live and facilitate safe and
sustainable reintegration for these offenders.
“We want the public to feel confident that we have the
right measures in place for offenders to reduce the risk of
harm. We also have to balance public concern with the
offender’s right to live legally within the community as
the courts/Parole Board have directed.”
Corrections has updated practice guidance for staff
involved in assessing and approving addresses for offenders
who have offended against children. This will be implemented
in March following a pilot.
“It can be very challenging to find suitable accommodation
for people with convictions for offending against children.
Our updated guidance has been designed to support staff
to do this,” says Brent. ■
New role in brief
Your local adviser will:
>> assist in the identification of accommodation
options for offenders
>> talk to interested groups about the work we
do to manage offenders safely and effectively
>> support communities, other agencies and
Corrections staff involved in managing
offenders and safeguarding the community.
If you want to contact one of our regional advisers
you can use one of the email addresses below:
>>
>>
>>
>>
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
We’ll be adding more information to our website
www.corrections.govt.nz soon.
DE PAR TME N T O F CO R R E CTI O N S
CORRECTIONS WORKS
7
New guided releases
HELP PRISONERS FIND THEIR FEET
One of the first prisoners to benefit
from a new Corrections’ reintegration
initiative was released in February 2017.
G
ase Manager Nathan Tipuna works through release
+ Cdetails
with Matt.
att is signed out for his Guided Release with
+ MNathan Tipuna.
8
uided Release began in September 2016. It’s
aimed at long-serving prisoners who need help
transitioning back into the community and who
are eligible for temporary releases from prison.
Under Guided Release, Corrections staff take approved
prisoners out into the community to address outstanding
reintegrative needs. Guided Release activities could include
attending a job interview, registering with Work and Income,
and obtaining accommodation or personal ID (which many
prisoners don’t have).
“Release from prison is a challenging time,” says
Rolleston Prison’s Principal Case Manager John MacClure.
“Research shows that 44% of people released from prison are
reconvicted within the first 12 months. Guided Release
provides offenders with an opportunity to address their needs
before release and gives them a better chance of making it
through the first few months after release.”
“This is not something we can do alone,” says John. “All
our reintegration work involves wide-ranging support from
government, community groups, businesses and individuals.”
Matt* is in his mid 30s and has completed his second
prison sentence for driving while disqualified.
Through Guided Release, Matt has had two outings from
Christchurch Men’s Prison with his Case Manager Nathan
Tipuna. These enabled him to attend a job interview and
open a bank account, which provided him with a form
of legal identification.
“Moving back into the community can be really hard,”
says Nathan. “No matter how prepared they think they are,
the majority of released prisoners will confront financial and
emotional challenges, and have concerns relating to moving
back in with family, finding accommodation and a job.
Through Guided Release we start working with people early,
while they still have the stability of prison, food and shelter.”
Matt is determined to succeed. “I’m feeling really positive
about my release. Last time I was in prison I just acted
the goat. Then I came out, did the same thing and went
back to prison. This time I’m doing everything to make it
work. I’m going to reconnect with my family and I’m not
coming back.” ■
*Name changed to protect his privacy.
New mental
health and
reintegration
programme
omen prisoners will receive extra mental health support
+ Wduring
the pilot.
A
s a result, we’re about to see new staff begin
work on the Mental Health and Reintegration
Programme pilot in selected community and
prison sites around the country.
“As a population, offenders and prisoners are
disproportionately affected by mental health issues,”
says Director Offender Health Bronwyn Donaldson.
“Addressing those issues will remove the barriers to their
participation in industry, treatment and learning activities,
and ultimately contribute to reducing re-offending.”
As part of the pilot, Corrections will introduce four types
of service:
>> increased mental health support for offenders in prison
and the community
>> wrap-around support for the families of offenders
engaged in mental health services
>> counselling and social work services for women prisoners
>> a transitional temporary supported living service on
release for offenders with severe mental health needs
and/or cognitive impairment.
The pilot will cost around $14 million and run for two years.
We will assess the outcomes twice – in October 2017 and
again in October 2018.
Social workers and counsellors have already started work
in the three women’s prisons; Auckland Region Women’s
Corrections Facility now has two social workers and two
counsellors. Christchurch Women’s Prison and Arohata
Prison have one of each.
By introducing new resources,
Corrections is better placed to meet
the needs of offenders with mental
health challenges.
Bronwyn says, “Social workers are working with women
who are mothers to support their continued parenting,
especially where Child, Youth and Family is involved, as
well as leading practice in the Mothers with Babies units.”
The counsellors are working with women to address
historical or current trauma.
Wrap-around family support will be available at four
Community Corrections sites that will help navigate at-risk
families towards existing community services and support
them to engage with those services.
New clinicians, including nurses with post-graduate
qualifications in mental health, psychologists and occupational
therapists will work directly with prisoners and offenders to
stabilise and address their mental health needs and support
Corrections staff in their work with these people.
The supported living service will work towards having
suitable accommodation and sufficient support available in
the community to adequately address qualifying prisoners’
immediate and long-term severe mental health and/or
cognitive impairment needs. These prisoners don’t
immediately meet health sector thresholds for care.
The service will be transitional and provide an interim
and safe place to live upon release from prison. Providers
will assist offenders to access longer term sustainable
supported living and appropriate services for ongoing
health and treatment needs.
These strands will weave together to form a strong
programme of positive change to help prisoners and
offenders struggling with mental health challenges. ■
DE PAR TME N T O F CO R R E CTI O N S
CORRECTIONS WORKS
9
Helping mothers
inside the wire
“If you help a mother, you can help a
family,” says Stacey Shortall, founder
of the Mothers Project.
S
VOLUNTEERS
tacey, a partner with law firm MinterEllisonRuddWatts,
has set up a trust named “Who did you help today?”
to connect skilled people with not-for-profit
community projects.
One of these is the Mothers Project, which is run by
Stacey and a pool of volunteer lawyers. The Mothers Project
helps mothers in prison maintain family ties while separated
from their children. The volunteers also provide legal
information, correct misperceptions and act as role models.
“We help the women understand their responsibilities and
rights, and how to think differently about their interactions
with agencies and individuals who are looking after their
children,” says Stacey. “We expose the women to our
volunteers who often have had different experiences. It works
both ways as the volunteers get a lot of perspective from
meeting with the women and genuinely want to help them.”
Feedback from everyone involved shows that the project
has been valuable in helping the mothers maintain
connections with their children or helping them to understand
what steps might be required to gain access to their children.
“The response from the mothers has been fantastic. If
they can maintain a meaningful connection with their children
following release, they could be less likely to re-offend.”
The Mothers Project has been running at Auckland Region
Women’s Corrections Facility for two years. In late 2016,
it was introduced at Arohata Prison and plans are underway
to expand the project to Christchurch Women’s Prison. ■
tacey Shortall (third from left) and some of her volunteer
+ Scolleagues
at Auckland Region Women’s Corrections Facility.
10
Morris with An Anthology of Poems written by prisoners
+ JatoHawkes
Bay Regional Prison.
PRISONERS WRITE
CREATIVELY
A love of teaching writing led an English
secondary school teacher to volunteer at Hawkes
Bay Regional Prison.
“I strongly believe that being able to communicate
effectively and share your stories is a fundamental
part of being human,” says Jo Morris. “People who
can write well are better equipped to handle
whatever life throws at them.”
Jo heard about the successful ‘Unlocked’
programme run by The Red Room Company1 in
Sydney, which takes poets into prisons. “Although
I’m a teacher rather than a poet or writer, I have
a Master of Arts in Creative Writing. I decided that
running a trial creative writing course would be a
good starting point for a similar programme here.”
Jo runs the course over six weeks for an hour
each week. “Each session, I give students a writing
prompt, which could be either words or an image,
and I focus on providing encouragement and
feedback. The aim is for each participant to have
two finished pieces to include in an anthology.”
The men have responded positively and their
writing has improved. “They’ve become better at
trusting that their thoughts have value when shared.
Some of the writing they’ve produced is startlingly
good.”
Jo’s second creative writing course started
in early March. ■
1
http://redroomcompany.org/projects/unlocked
From our Minister
It is my absolute privilege to be the new Corrections Minister in
the National Government. Already I have visited 10 prisons and
a number of Community Corrections sites around the country.
I
have attended the graduation of
113 new corrections officers and
announced new funding of $64 million
for Corrections as part of our
Government’s half billion dollar
investment in law and order that
includes money for more frontline
Police and more resources for courts.
One thing is clear, this is a time of
great change. I am the third Corrections
Minister in as many years; Corrections
is dealing with the biggest prison muster
yet, and we are more focused than ever
on ensuring our communities are kept
safe and offenders are able to
reintegrate successfully into society
and remain crime-free.
Among all of this change, there
are two constants – the aim we all
have to reduce re-offending, and, more
importantly, the Corrections staff
who go to work every day facing new
challenges but always with the belief
they can make a difference to the lives
of the people in their care.
It is my job to ensure that Corrections
has the resources it needs to carry out
the required work.
The $64 million for Corrections
announced by the Prime Minister
recently will go towards more staff
and more resources for rehabilitation,
education and life skills training.
I opened our new public protection
order facility in Christchurch recently,
and this is another way we can manage
some of our highest risk offenders.
But on the ground, it is the Corrections
staff who deal daily with offenders
who will make the practical difference.
I applaud them for their dedication to
improving the lives of some of our most
troubled citizens and keeping them safe
while also ensuring that our communities
are kept safe. ■
Hon. Louise Upston
MINISTER OF CORRECTIONS
TAKE A LOOK AT OUR
REFRESHED WEBSITE
We’ve given our website a new look, but we’ve
kept information in the same place.
The new website features more photographs of
our work and people, and allows us to tell our stories
directly to online visitors.
Take a tour of our website and let us know what
you think.
www.corrections.govt.nz
DE PAR TME N T O F CO R R E CTI O N S
CORRECTIONS WORKS
11
regional
HIGHLIGHTS
Regional Highlights
Northern
NORTHERN REGION GEARING UP FOR
ALCOHOL AND DRUG TESTING TRIAL
F
urology van. Some offenders
+ Awithmobile
an abstinence condition will be
directed to undergo a urine test by
their probation officer or Police in
a van like this.
monitoring anklets will be part
+ Aof lcohol
the Northern Region trial. The
anklets detect alcohol in sweat and
provide evidence that the wearer has
consumed alcohol. These will be
reserved for our highest risk offenders
and electronically monitored bailees.
12
rom 16 May new legislation
will allow for the drug and
alcohol testing and monitoring
of offenders and bailees subject
to abstinence conditions.
Working with Police, Corrections will
implement the legislation using a phased
approach, starting with a two-year trial
in the Northern Region. The trial will
allow us to identify the right mix of testing
technologies and frequency of testing to
inform a national roll out in the future.
Since the legislation will be
retrospective, any offender with an
existing abstinence condition on 16 May
could be subject to testing. This means
Corrections staff in the Northern Region
have started alerting offenders to the
law change and what it means for them.
Northern Region Operations Director
Lynette Cave says the trial will give
Corrections and Police more evidence
about breaches of abstinence conditions.
“The evidence will help staff decide
what action to take to help keep the
community safe. Many offenders
genuinely want to quit, so our ability
to test them will help them maintain
their commitment to sobriety and
support their rehabilitation.”
Not all community-based offenders in
the Northern Region will be tested during
the trial; testing will only apply to those
given an abstinence condition by a judge
or the Parole Board. Staff will then target
higher risk offenders with more intensive
monitoring such as more frequent
random drug testing and continuous
alcohol monitoring via an anklet that
can detect alcohol use. Lower risk
offenders will be tested if their probation
officer has reason to believe they may
have used drugs or alcohol.
A formal evaluation at the end of
the trial will identify which methods are
the most effective in providing evidence
to staff and reducing alcohol and
drug-related harm. ■
+ Sew good for kids:
Corrections Officer and Sewing
Instructor Joanne Hammerton
(centre), and Comfort Kidz
volunteers Natalie Callard
(left) and Louise Rogers, show
pikau (care) bags made by
prisoners employed in the
Northland Region Corrections
Facility sewing workshop.
The men have made over
600 bags for children going
into care who often have few
possessions. The bags are
donated to the multi-agency
centre of the Middlemore
Health Foundation in Auckland.
Northern
Central
Lower North
Southern
A
forklift licence course is helping to ‘lift’ hopes
of a new career for offenders in the Paeroa area
thanks to Corrections’ collaboration with the
Transport Licensing Company.
The one day intensive course took eight offenders
through the theoretical and practical requirements for an
Occupational Health and Safety (OSH) approved forklift
licence, opening up opportunities in the horticultural,
distribution and transportation industries.
“We know that through training, education and
employment we can help reduce re-offending and with
partners like the Transport Licensing Company, we’re
helping to make a real difference in offenders’ lives,”
says Paeroa Service Manager Jennifer Dorofaeff.
“Once you complete the course, you can drive a forklift
in any warehouse/yard scenario in New Zealand, which
opens many future employment opportunities,” says Trainer
Brad Ellis. “Our course also provides an F Endorsement,
which appears on your driver licence and means you can
drive a forklift on a public road, which is important for
horticultural work.”
Once they have completed the course, offenders are
further supported by organisations like EmployNZ, Workwise
and offender recruitment consultants who help place them
in employment based on their new skill set.
Regional Highlights
Central
LIFTING HOPES FOR OFFENDERS IN PAEROA
Paeroa Community Corrections also delivered three
motor vehicle driver licence programmes last year and
helped 10 offenders obtain their learner licences. This not
only helps offenders with employment, it can help keep them
out of court for offences such as driving without a licence.
A second forklift course took place in January 2017 and
more courses will be scheduled throughout the year. ■
eter Ellison from the Transport Licensing Company
+ Pprepares
to begin the training.
BUZZING WITH ACTIVITIES
W
piculture students at
+ ATongariro
Prison.
ith around 700,000
beehives in New Zealand
and only 7,000 beekeepers,
apiculture is a good career
choice and Central Region prisons are
buzzing with activities to take advantage
of this opportunity.
At Tongariro Prison, apiculture is
well established with 14 prisoners already
holding their level 2 Apiculture Certificate
in Bee Keeping, and a Level 3 course is
currently underway.
Waikeria Prison has recently received
250 hives with another 100 on the way to
help train prisoners, and Spring Hill
Corrections Facility is looking at
introducing bee keeping into their
training suite to make it a trifecta
for Central Region prisons.
Central Regional Commissioner
Terry Buffery says, “Bee keeping is a
highly transferrable skill. It’s good for
the environment and prisoners have to
learn to care for a very complex group
of living creatures, and that helps foster
the type of person we want to introduce
back into the community.” ■
DE PAR TME N T O F CO R R E CTI O N S
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13
regional
H IG H L IG H TS
Regional Highlights
Lower North
CULTURAL LEARNING
AND COOKING FOR
WAITANGI DAY
K
ai and korero were on the cards on Saturday
4 February as Wellington community-based
offenders learned about traditional Mäori cooking
and Te Tiriti O Waitangi (The Treaty of Waitangi)
at Mokai Kainga Garden, Owhiro Bay.
Under the guidance of community work supervisors and
marae elders, offenders were involved in a full hangi process.
They planted and harvested the vegetables, learnt how to
prepare the food and the hangi pit, laid and uncovered the
hangi and participated in traditional Mäori customs.
While the hangi cooked, offenders were introduced to the
Treaty and what it meant for some of the guests, including
Mokai Kainga Mäori Centre CEO Robert Te Whare.
“The Tiriti [Treaty] workshop was an eye opener for
some who weren’t aware of what the Treaty means,” says
Community Work Supervisor Tupu Araiti.
“We learned a lot about hangi preparations, shared some
of the principles of the Treaty, and we thoroughly enjoyed
celebrating Waitangi Day with one another.”
One offender said: “Today’s session was great. It allowed
me to have some understanding and experience of the Treaty.”
Community work has a focus on teaching offenders every
day skills that they can share with their whänau. The skills
can increase their motivation to make positive changes in
their lives and ultimately increase their employability. ■
on community work sentences lay a hangi
+ Oonffenders
Waitangi Day.
PRISONERS REFURBISH BIKES
FOR LOCAL COMMUNITY
N
+ A prisoner works on a bike wheel.
14
early 300 bikes have been
donated to a community
project to provide quality
refurbished bikes to people in
the Upper Hutt community who wouldn’t
normally have access to a bike.
Since August 2016, Rimutaka Prison
has been involved in the project and
prisoners have so far stripped, repaired
and painted more than 110 bikes.
The project is an initiative between
the prison, Upper Hutt City’s Activation
Team, The Cycle Centre and Upper Hutt
City Council.
Senior Corrections Officer Richard
Simpson says the men enjoy the work.
“It’s a terrific project and one where
they can put their skills to good use
while doing something useful for the
community”.
The bikes are given a safety check
and inspection by Andrew Hanlon,
qualified bike mechanic from The Cycle
Centre, before being returned to the
community via the council’s community
development team.
Every bike comes with a helmet
funded by Heretaunga Rotary, a lock and
a high visibility vest from the council, as
well as information about cycle safety.
Bike recycling programmes are
in place in Tongariro, Auckland and
Christchurch Men’s Prison, as well
as a number of Community Corrections
sites. ■
Regional Highlights
Southern
PRISON PRODUCTS
PROUDLY BOOST
BIODIVERSITY
P
risoners at Otago Corrections Facility (OCF)
are playing their part in conservation efforts
to safeguard New Zealand’s special native
species and their habitat.
“The partnership with Conservation is a great fit
with the prison,” says OCF Assistant Prison Director
Gill Brown. “OCF prisoners and staff are very proud
of their part in helping to safeguard our special flora
and fauna. The projects help staff build the employable
skills of prisoners while boosting conservation efforts
in the region.”
The Building Capacity to Boost Conservation
project began in 2015, when Department of
Conservation Partnership Ranger Sue Streatfield
approached OCF.
“An important aspect of prison industries is to be
engaged in activity that has a useful purpose for the
community while learning employable skills,” says Gill.
“Local community and environmental projects
are of particular interest to offenders who can see
the benefit to the community. It shows them that
we can all make a difference to our environment,
even from prison.”
Prisoners in carpentry, engineering and
horticultural industry training have been working on
projects that will support the eradication of predator
populations, protection and transportation of native
species, and the protection and restoration of native
habitats and flora.
So far the men have built 300 predator traps,
50 bird transfer boxes, 40 wëtä motels, and cultivated
red tussock seeds for restoration purposes. ■
ird transfer boxes made by prisoners at Otago
+ BCorrections
Facility.
rogramme Facilitator Marjo Bruijn with a Short Rehabilitation
+ PProgramme
participant.
REHABILITATION
PROGRAMME OFFERS
BETTER OUTCOMES
F
ive Greymouth offenders are taking part in the first
community-based Short Rehabilitation Programme
(SRP) of 2017.
Designed for small groups of men or women,
the 24-session SRP is delivered in both community and prison
settings to offenders on sentence for violence offences.
“The SRP is highly successful,” says West Coast Service
Manager Kelly Hill. “It gives participants the skills to identify
situations that may lead to their offending and strategies
that help them manage and avoid these in future.”
Corrections Programme Facilitator Marjo Bruijn delivers
the four-day a week, six-week programme.
“These five men have been identified as highly motivated
to make changes with their offending,” says Marjo. “I’m
excited to work with them throughout their journey.”
Tom* has benefited a great deal from the programme. In
his mid 30s, Tom started the programme not expecting much,
but as it progressed he connected with the group and now
feels he can speak up and share the issues he is dealing with.
The SRP introduces several models to help offenders with
issues such as communication and lifestyle balance.
Corrections is planning to run three further SRP
programmes in 2017 on the West Coast, two for men and
one for women offenders. ■
*Name changed to protect his privacy.
DE PAR TME N T O F CO R R E CTI O N S
CORRECTIONS WORKS
15
NEW HAWERA COMMUNITY
CORRECTIONS SITE OPENS
Corrections Chief Executive Ray
Smith officially opened Hawera
Community Corrections’ new
premises on 31 January 2017.
T
he building is part of a five-year nationwide renewal
programme to make Community Corrections sites
more secure for staff and provide facilities that
encourage positive interactions with offenders
and their families.
District Manager Coralea Easther says, “The new
site includes safety and security features such as CCTV
monitoring, a main entrance that can be remotely locked,
duress alarms and swipe card access to staff-only areas.”
The new site has an improved community work area and
dedicated rooms where work and living skills programmes
as well as rehabilitation, motivation and maintenance
programmes can be delivered. A new whänau room provides
a comfortable space where staff can meet families of
offenders.
“The former site was no longer fit for purpose,” says
Coralea. “In summer it was too hot, in winter it was freezing,
and the concrete walls often dripped with water. The building
was built in 1912 and was seismically unsafe.”
+ Hawera Community Corrections’ new premises.
COR R EC T IONS
hief Executive Ray Smith and South Taranaki District
+ CMayor
Ross Dunlop in the new site’s reception area.
Hawera Community Corrections’ 14 staff manage
286 offenders on 339 community-based sentences and
orders including home detention and community work.
In 2016 offenders completed more than 25,800 hours
of community work across South Taranaki with schools,
community organisations and popular walkways benefiting
from projects managed by the site.
“Community work is a reparative sentence, so offenders
are giving back to their local communities. They work under
the guidance of our community work supervisors and are
learning new skills along the way,” says Acting Senior
Community Work Supervisor Alison Spurdle.
“We’re always looking for new community projects for
our community work teams,” says Alison. “Any non-profit
groups or organisations in South Taranaki looking for
assistance should contact Hawera Community Corrections
on 0800 477 622.”
More than 30,000 offenders are serving community-based
sentences at any given time around the country. Community
Corrections supports and motivates these people to make
changes in their lives and give back to their communities. ■
Corrections Works is published quarterly by the Department of Corrections.
Private Box 1206, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
Phone 04 460 3365 Email [email protected]
@correctionsNZ
Corrections NZ
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