The enthusiasm and work ethic of prisoners at Waikeria Prison’s Nikau Unit for women has resulted in them hosting a Pacific cultural day.
It was the first time that the women’s unit had held such a day, says Unit Manager Rocky Paterson.
“They approached one of the staff members with their ideas and were clearly really into it, so we got a Tongan tutor in to help,” he says.
“They already knew some Samoan pieces, and they learnt enough to present a onehour medley of dances from across the Pacific.”
The 15 prisoners in the show practised for around two months.
They performed to the rest of their unit, Fautua Pasefika Ned Cook and Nightingale Tuipulotu, and invited guests including motivational speaker Evelyn Stanley and Black Ferns rugby captain Davida White.
“This is a way they can re-connect with their culture and community, it is a sense of being or belonging,” says Rocky.
“Many of the women have a natural interest in their culture, just like men and women are interested in kapa haka, and we had Maori, Europeans and Chinese involved,” he says.
“Self esteem and confidence is really important for many of these women whose backgrounds often involve violence.
“This was their chance to show they could do things better than men’s units who have held Pacific Island cultural days in previous years.”
The performers have carried on practising and Rocky says he would like to see the group continue on in future, even as prisoners come and go from the Nikau Unit.
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