Maori prisoners focused on culture

By CATHERINE MASTERS

A range of programmes is being targeted at Maori in jails. The Corrections Department says this is because Maori make up 50 per cent of the prison population. That is forecast to rise to 58 per cent by 2013.

Programmes are provided according to risk of re-offending and specific services are aimed at Maori, including Maori focus units, bicultural therapy and tikanga Maori programmes.

There are five Maori focus units in prisons around the country. Inmates come to these towards the end of a prison sentence with the aim of re-establishing links with the community.

Maori inmates who have served long sentences and meet security classifications are housed together, learn Maori culture and get back in touch with their families. There are also therapeutic programmes, to help with relationships and combat drug abuse, for example.

Pakeha do not participate in these but Corrections says a range of other specialist units caters for their needs.

These include units for young offenders, sex offenders and violent offenders. All Pakeha who have the required need and are at risk of re-offending attend these programmes.

One of the sex offender units, Te Piriti at Auckland Prison at Paremoremo, has a high Maori cultural component but Pakeha offenders also go to this, and Corrections' research shows it has a positive impact on them.

The psychological service provides bicultural therapy from a Maori cultural perspective for Maori.

Tikanga Maori programmes are aimed at getting Maori offenders back in touch with their culture. These can include learning taiaha, kapa haka, waiata and karakia.

Other programmes are available across the board to any ethnicity, from basic literacy and vocational training to motivational programmes and budgeting and parenting.

The department receives $514 million to run the prisons and provide programmes. Of that, $20 millon is specifically targeted to reduce reoffending by Maori and $15 million of it goes to the Maori focus units. Some $14 million of that is for custodial needs and would be spent anyway.

Pakeha do not miss out on cultural and spiritual needs, says Richard Bargh, Corrections' acting general manager of policy.

A faith-based unit is being trialled at Rimutaka Prison in Wellington, offering Bible classes for Christian inmates.

Staff of the prison chaplaincy service try to make contact with spiritual leaders in the community for people of other faiths.

The department's strategic plan for Maori states that providing the right intervention for Maori offenders begins with an acknowledgement of the specific needs of Maori.

"This places Maori cultural values, philosophies and practices to the forefront when considering solutions for addressing re-offending by Maori offenders," it says.

Punishment for offenders in prisons is covered by legislation and is the same for all prisoners.

About 10 years ago there was a call by some Maori for a separate marae-based justice system, but this did not eventuate.

The court system remains the English system, aside from a restorative justice pilot taking place at some district courts, which is based more on traditional Maori justice.

It is similar to family group conferences in the youth justice system where the offender has to front up to the victim and also face family members.

The system is under the control of the court and is equally open to Pakeha.

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