28 July 2011

The Samoan High Commissioner, His Excellency Asi Tuiataga James Fa'afili Blakelock visited Hawke’s Bay Regional Prison this afternoon.

His Excellency, accompanied by his wife Letelesa Helen Blakelock and leaders of the Hawke’s Bay Samoan community, visited the Maori Focus Unit where a number of Samoan prisoners are taking part in the programme.

Hawke's Bay Prison staff and managers, the Department of Corrections’ National Pacific Adviser and prisoners gave the High Commissioner a traditional Samoan welcome, including drumming and dance. The group then took a tour of the Maori Focus Unit and spoke with prisoners about the work they were doing and the skills and knowledge they were gaining. The prisoners also presented the High Commissioner with a gift of a carved table they had made to mark the occasion.

“My visit today was to show the prisoners here that the Samoan community is there to support them to make positive changes and build a crime free life for them and their families,” Mr Blakelock said.

“The prisoners and staff at the Maori Focus Unit greatly appreciated the High Commissioner taking the time to visit them and hear about the work they are doing,” said Acting Hawke's Bay Prison Manager Brenden Makinson.

Maori Focus Units are open to all nationalities who agree to abide by the unit’s kaupapa and a number of Pacific Island prisoners take part in the programme. Members of the Hawke’s Bay Samoan community come into the prison to teach Samoan language and culture and encourage prisoners to reconnect with their culture and values.

“The Maori Focus Unit works to build self esteem and connections with culture and community that will give offenders the tools and motivation to make positive changes in their lives,” said Mr Makinson.

Background
The Hawke's Bay Prison Maori Focus Unit works with up to 60 prisoners at a time to provide a positive environment where they can connect with and understand the Maori culture. The Unit is a ‘therapeutic community’ where the prisoners support each other, and work with prison staff and kaumatua from the local iwi to apply Tikanga Maori (correct procedure) to their thoughts, beliefs and actions. Prisoners take part in kapa haka and learn Te Reo Maori, as well as being taught carving skills and learning about their whakapapa (heritage).

An evaluation carried out in 2009 found that Maori Focus Units and Maori Therapeutic Programmes are succeeding in helping prisoners make positive changes in the attitudes and beliefs related to criminal lifestyles.

The first Maori Focus Unit opened at Hawke's Bay Prison in 1997. Since then, Maori Focus Units have been established at Waikeria, Tongariro/Rangipo, Rimutaka and Wanganui Prisons.

ENDS

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