KEY POINTS:
She's in jail for aggravated robbery, has two young children on the outside, and is looking forward to supporting them as a newly-trained photocopier technician when she walks free in 2010.
We can't identify the 23-year-old inmate at the Auckland Regional Women's Prison in Wiri, but she told the Herald how she is enjoying developing a new skill she would never have imagined learning.
The young woman has worked before in the hospitality industry where hours were unsuitable for raising children.
"It was stressful too - and in a bar there are bad factors."
Now she is spending the working week at the prison assembling new photocopier machines and stripping down and cleaning second hand units.
"It is very enjoyable, installing toners, speakers and keys. They are totally new skills."
She had asked to work in the prison and now wants to do some electronics study related to the job.
Another prisoner hopes she will get her first long-term job when she is released after being convicted on burglary charges.
The 28-year-old said she had tried for jobs before with little success.
"I never got a call back."
But with a shortage of trained technicians, the mother of one is in a good position to pick up work in Auckland when she is released.
Canon New Zealand yesterday announced an agreement with the Department of Corrections that would see prison inmates continue in their training after a successful trial in Auckland and at the Rimutaka Prison in Wellington.
Canon managing director Craig Manson said demand for services was outstripping supply in the Wellington and Auckland regions.
"This partnership will address the issue of the shortage of qualified workers within the market," he said. The workshops would employ up to eight inmates at each prison.
"The investment of time and resources into this programme is not only going to assist the prisoners with possible reintegration into society, but also help to develop safer communities. Research shows that prisoners who find sustainable employment on release are less likely to re-offend."
Canon technicians train the inmates in the assembly and dismantling of photocopiers with an electronic manufacturing instructor there at all times to oversee the work.
Across both workshops, 135 new machines were being assembled each month and up to 50 cleaned.
The prisoners were also able to obtain NZQA credits towards a National Certificate in Electronic Manufacturing.
Declan Ryan, Canon Wellington branch manager, said the quality of the work produced by the prisoners almost matched that of company technicians.
A pilot recycling scheme in Auckland was also producing a pallet of recyclable components from the machines per month, minimising the impact on land fills.
Corrections Minister Phil Goff said such partnerships with the private sector were encouraged.
Mr Goff said more than half of those who came into prison had been unemployed and many more lacked skills. The goal was to have 60 per cent of all inmates in training by 2010. "We are trying to avoid the situation where inmates come to prison and idle their time away before returning to the community," he said.
Corrections chief executive Barry Matthews said prisoners were only paid a low rate, at most 60 cents an hour.
$14.5M CELLBLOCK
A revolutionary new cellblock was officially opened at Rotorua police station yesterday.
Police Commissioner Howard Broad and Police Minister Annette King were among the dignitaries who attended the opening of the Rotorua police custodial facility.
The $14.5 million cellblock is modelled on the Brisbane police watchhouse, and features glass cells to make the facility safer for prisoners and police staff.
It is monitored by 150 security cameras and is the first of its kind in the country. The facility will become operational in about two weeks.
It replaces Rotorua's ageing 1960s cell-block, which was considered among the worst in the country for risk to prisoners and police.
Ms King had seen the old block and said in a speech that it was notable for its "dehumanising wretchedness".
The official opening of the new facility was delayed by a day for the funeral of Sergeant Derek Wootton, the 27th officer to be killed on duty. It was held in Porirua on Wednesday.
