"Ngapari's past and his ongoing relationships with people in the wider gang, whānau , and community, allied to evidence he has made changes in his life, make him an ideal person to initiate the same kind of change in others," Mr Hutson said.
He said it was disappointing to hear Mr Nui's work in the prison had been stopped apparently for no other reason than his affiliation to the gang.
"People within the gang community looking to impact positive change for their whānau should be supported.
"Since 2009, the Salvation Army has 10 times run a six to eight week residential addiction programme in partnership with the Notorious Chapter of the Mongrel Mob, and has seen very positive results in reduction of crime, improved health, employment, and other beneficial outcomes."
Surely that's what New Zealand is after when it incarcerates people - that people will be rehabilitated?
Without initiatives of this kind, a "highly marginalised" group such as this would remain on the edge of society, impervious to sometimes expensive mainstream efforts to achieve change, he said.
Hutson called on Ms Collins to reconsider her decision to reject Mr Nui's access to and involvement with prisoners as a step toward making a difference in the lives of prison inmates.
"Surely that's what New Zealand is after when it incarcerates people - that people will be rehabilitated?"
But the Sensible Sentencing Trust are standing behind Ms Collins, saying it was a matter of principle.
"The Minister of Corrections stated that it's not acceptable that people who are active gang members, who obviously view their patch as very important to them, are going to have access to our prisoners," Scott Guthrie said.
There is no way any gang member, whether Mongrel Mob, Hells Angels, Head Hunters, Black Power, or any other gang, patched or non-patched, should be working in prisons with prisoners.
"You don't have to look far to see the death and destruction that gangs cause in our community, and to even remotely suggest that any gang member or their associate should be allowed to work inside a prison is against what the majority of the public believe."
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Ruanui Trust chief executive Debbie Ngarewa-Packer said Mr Nui doesn't wear a patch, doesn't drink, do drugs, or otherwise engage in illegal behaviour, but Mr Guthrie said she needed to "wake up and smell the roses".
"This is the real world and she needs to understand what it is exactly that Black Power stands for, because I can tell you they don't stand for much that is law abiding, and there is no way any gang member, whether Mongrel Mob, Hells Angels, Head Hunters, Black Power, or any other gang, patched or non-patched, should be working in prisons with prisoners."
He called for Mr Nui to "front the media himself".
News of the stand down has received a number of comments on the Wanganui Chronicle website.
"Having a member of a gang coming into the prison with official acceptance and given special status will make gang membership seem more ok and honourable, especially for younger inmates," one commenter said.
"[Mr Nui] has been representing and increasing the apparent official acceptability of a gang that practises a huge rate of antisocial activity and causes a lot of harm."
Another person said: "I think Ngāti Ruanui would know this man and vouch for him as does the ex Mayor and MP. I don't like gangs but I know a number of people with gang affiliations that hold down good jobs and lead law abiding lives. Get over it."
"If the iwi support this gang member and are disappointed he was sacked from a prison role, take a long hard look at yourselves," said another commenter.
"No one wants gangs in the country. You're weak if you need a gang to find solace and friendship, as we all know they don't help."
