The Saili Matagi Pacific Violence Prevention Programme, now run by Probation and Offender Services, encourages Pacific offenders to change their behaviour by drawing on their cultural roots.
The need for a violence prevention programme that targets Pacific adult males who have been imprisoned for serious violent offences was identified in Corrections’ first Pacific Strategy. Recent studies and Corrections’ own recidivism and treatment outcome data, confirm that being aware of the culture of offenders is critical to achieving reductions in re-offending.
Saili Matagi, which translates as ‘in search of good winds’, runs for 28 weeks. It includes two weeks of pre-therapy assessment, 24 weeks of group therapy, two weeks of the post-therapy assessment and a community component.
The third group of Pacific prisoners completed the programme at Auckland Prison in May and a total of 25 have graduated so far. A further ten men are scheduled to start this month.
The programme has been specifically designed with a Pacific focus. It incorporates a Pacific welcome that embraces families and community groups in the rehabilitation and reintegration process and uses Pacific analogies and concepts to describe the different programme components.
Saili Matagi Programme Facilitator Glory Toleafoa says the programme works holistically by encouraging the men to revisit their cultural roots and upbringing and identify for themselves what was good and what was bad.
“The men gain an understanding of the core beliefs taught to them by their fathers and forefathers; they have a huge respect for their culture and upbringing,” she says.
“The sense of who they are is strongly fostered, their behaviour is challenged and their offending is closely scrutinised - all within the realms of Pacifica, how we think and feel, act, talk, walk, address each other, show respect, nurture relationships and communicate with each other.”
Glory says a lot of men leaving prison find themselves struggling to apply their new skills in their home environment.
“Their families appreciate having our presence in their homes to explain for them the journey that the men have completed while in prison, and how they can further support their family member to consolidate his learning and help prevent him from reoffending,” she says.
“Being able to understand why they offend, at the core, is the most effective way to work with our Pacific men.”
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ISSN 1178-8453