Balancing act: A helicopter flies in steps and
bridges to the prisoners working at Colonial Knob.
THIRTY prisoners from Rimutaka Prison are helping Porirua City Council to restore the Colonial Knob Walkway in the Porirua Scenic Reserve near Wellington.
Six prisoners in the Rimutaka joinery workshop have built 88 sets of boxed steps and six new bridges for the upgrade. These were flown in by helicopter throughout August.
Three work gangs of supervised prisoners have been doing the back-breaking work on the track to prepare for the installment of the steps and bridges.
National Manager of Corrections Inmate Employment (CIE) Brent Maughan says the track restoration is a good example of how prisoners can give something back to the community while gaining valuable work skills.
“The majority of prisoners enter prison with limited education or work experience,” Brent says.
“CIE gives prisoners work experience or industry training so they have a better chance of finding a job when they’re released.”
CIE employs and trains over 1800 prisoners in a wide variety of industries, including woodwork, joinery and forestry.
The track upgrade is due to be completed in late November, depending upon weather conditions.
Partnerships with local communities and businesses give prisoners a chance to start building a new life without crime. If you know someone who owns a business and is interested in employing prisoners please contact CIE on cie.worktraining@corrections.govt.nz or phone 0800 789 243.
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ISSN 1178-8453