Saili Matagi is specifically for Pacific men who have committed violent offences, or who show violent behaviour. It aims to help Pacific men change their violent behaviour and create a positive, crime-free future for themselves.
Saili Matagi has a Pacific cultural focus, and will involve your family and community groups who can support you in changing your behaviour, both in and outside of prison.
The programme is only delivered in the Pacific Focus Unit at Spring Hill Corrections Facility (at Te Kauwhata, south of Auckland).
Who is it for?
Saili Matagi is for Pacific male prisoners aged 20 or over, who are serving sentences for repetitive, violent, and serious offending and who have a moderate to high risk of re-offending.
Can I do a Saili Matagi Programme?
Your sentence planner will advise you if you are suitable for the Saili Matagi Programme, and they will check to see that you are motivated enough to work through the programme and challenge your own way of thinking and behaving.
If you are suitable, you will be referred to the programme near the end of your sentence, and you will continue some programme-related activities after you leave prison so you can truly make positive changes in your life.
How long does it take?
The programme is 216 hours long (72 sessions). Each session usually runs for three hours, three days per week for around 28 weeks.
What will I have to do?
You will meet with a programme facilitator in a group of up to 10 participants. Over the sessions you will be asked to talk about your offending – about what happens, what you are getting out of it and what it is costing you and your family.
The programme will help you learn to cope in difficult situations, how to solve problems and resolve conflict in positive ways. It will also help you learn relationship skills and how to manage your feelings and actions so you don’t offend again. The programme facilitator will work with you to set goals for making positive changes in the ways that you think and behave. You will also develop a support network in your community to continue to support and help you once you leave prison.
Who else is involved?
You may wish to tell people who are important to you – your family, friends or the people you work for and with – that you are doing this programme. They may be able to support you in creating a positive crime-free future.
For more information?
Talk to your sentence planner for more information.