$98 million Māori pathway created to break reoffending cycle in Northland, Hawke's Bay prisons

Friday, 10 May 2019

In 2015, Maori were eight times more likely to be sent to prison than Pakeha.

A whānau-centered pathway to tackle Māori reoffending rates will be introduced at Northland and Hawke's Bay prisons, the Government has announced.

Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis said the $98 million investment from the 'Wellbeing Budget' was a 'major first step' to breaking the cycle of Māori reoffending and imprisonment by changing the way Corrections operated.

'We are acknowledging that our system does not work for the majority of Māori,' Davis said.

Sixty-two per cent of the inmates in high-security prisons are Māori (file photo).

'The answer is not another programme. This is a new pathway for people in prison and their whānau to walk together.

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'This is a system change and a culture change for our prisons – and that change starts today.'

Māori make up 62 per cent of high-security prison populations, but only 15 per cent of the New Zealand population.

Davis said the pathway would allow prisoners to experience a kaupapa Māori and whānau-centred approach, from pre-sentence to reintegration back into the community.

It would initially focus on Māori men under 30 years of age – the group with the highest rates of re-conviction and re-imprisonment.

It was different from what was currently available because it blended existing programmes with iwi and hapū, Davis said.

That meant men could learn about their culture and identity alongside addressing the issues that put them in prison.

A fact sheet released along with the Government announcement said there were currently limitations to delivering existing rehabilitation programmes safely in high-security prisons.

'The intent of the Pathway is to bring some of these interventions into a high-security environment so that prisoners can begin the path to rehabilitation sooner and faster.'

Māori trauma and mental health support, expanded rehabilitation services, housing transition support and dedicated employment services would be included in the pathway.

While it was based on Māori values, it would be available to all prisoners.

The first initiatives would be rolled out at Hawke's Bay Regional Prison from July 1, with further steps to be rolled out from October 30.

No date was given for the roll-out at Northland Region Corrections Facility, but some programmes would be in place 'later in the year'.

It was not yet known how many prisoners would participate in the pathway.

There are 457 Māori prisoners at Hawke's Bay Regional Prison, out of a total prison population of 668.

At Northland Region Corrections Facility, 350 of the 623 prisoners are Māori.