Prisoners performed at the Pacific cultural day.
Mt Eden Prison was abuzz with the sounds of the Pacific at a Cultural Day in August which was held to help Pacific offenders unite with their communities and aid rehabilitation.
Local dignitaries, including Auckland Mayor Dick Hubbard and members of the Pacific community joined prisoners for a day of cultural performances and speeches on the role of communities in supporting offenders on their release.
Organiser and Corrections’ Northern Regional Pacific Community Liaison Officer Asenati Lole-Taylor says the cultural day was a great success.
“Events like this give the wider Pacific community access to offenders and allow the links between the prisoner and their communities to develop,” she says.
“Nearly every prisoner will be released back into the community at some point. The cultural day helped ensure that there is the support in place for the offender as soon as they return to the community, which ultimately reduces reoffending.
“It also helps offenders develop their cultural identities, and this is a key contributor to their well-being and cultural confidence,” added Asenati.
Mayor of Auckland Dick Hubbard -
a keynote speaker at Mt Eden’s
Pacific cultural day.
Over 40 members of the Owairaka Youth Group turned out to perform at the prison, with the Pacific prisoners returning the favour.
Auckland Mayor Dick Hubbard says events like the cultural day will help motivate prisoners and improve community safety.
“Community safety is an area of great importance for all of us, and events like this recognise that,” said Mr Hubbard.
“Having the offenders see their community supporting them will help them realise that they are not on the fringes of society. This will help them realise that there are options beyond crime.”
Members of the Owairaka Youth Group at Mt Eden prison.
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