Politicians and Department of Corrections staff yesterday celebrated two decades of Hawke's Bay Regional Prison's pioneering approach to rehabilitation.
Yesterday marked the 20 year anniversary of Maori Focus Units at prison and Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis said that was a major milestone in the use of kaupapa Maori values to help reduce re-offending.
Since the first Maori Focus Unit opened at Hawke's Bay Regional Prison, four more units have been opened at Rimutaka, Waikeria, Whanganui and Tongariro prisons.
The units, and the kaupapa Māori rehabilitation programme delivered within them, are collectively known as Te Tirohanga.
"The first unit marked the start of a truly kaupapa Maori approach to rehabilitating prisoners," Mr Davis said.